Brothers drowned after argument over fishing

A PAIR of brothers were drowned by a freak wave while arguing over a fish that got away, an inquest has heard.

Dr Robert Allen, 30, and Charles Allen, 21, died after the incident near Treyarnon Cove in north Cornwall last September.

The siblings, who were on a family holiday, were fishing from rocks with their brother-in-law Andrew

Thornton.

Giving evidence at Cornwall Coroner’s Court yesterday, Mr Thornton, a joiner, said: “Rob said he had a fish on. To make sure it didn’t get off the line we all climbed down.

“Rob blamed Charles because he took too long getting the net down so he was ranting and raving about that. Then the wave came and it hit Rob and washed him into the sea.” Charles tried to help save his brother but was hit by another wave and taken into the water.

He was rescued by a lifeboat crew and taken ashore. He was then taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Dr Allen’s body was not found until a week later after being washed ashore a few miles north-east of the fishing spot.