Recovering bodies of missing fishermen ‘could take months’
THE families of two missing fishermen presumed dead in a trawler tragedy could wait months to be reunited with the bodies of their loved ones.
It comes after the prawn boat Nancy Glen capsized and sank on Thursday night on Loch Fyne in Argyll.
Searches were scaled back yesterday as hopes faded of finding the two men alive.
A passing vessel pulled one man, named locally as John Miller, 34, from the water before being taken to hospital.
But hopes are all but lost for skipper Duncan MacDougall, 46, and shipmate Przemek Krawczyk.
Mr MacDougall is the father to two young sons, while Mr Krawczyk has a young daughter and an older stepson.
It is understood the ship has come to rest on the seabed in 140 metres of water near Tarbert on the west coast.
And experts believe it could be months before the ship is raised to the surface as the water is so deep where it sank.
Coastguard rescue teams were stood down from searches of the stretch of water yesterday as hopes of finding the missing men dimmed.
Searches had also taken place on Saturday but had failed to find any trace of the men.
Clyde Fishermen’s Association executive secretary Elaine Whyte said the families would need the support of the Royal Navy and maritime agencies if the families are to be given closure.
She said: ‘From what we understand the boat was in good condition. It’s particularly difficult because the families are in plain view of the site. The boat was less than two miles from harbour when it went down. One of the men was on deck and managed to get off quickly but the boat then disappeared.
‘They had called out for help and local boats and the Cal Mac ferry came to their aid. The Royal Navy crane boat was also luckily in the area and was getting in position while the other boats tied ropes to keep the vessel safe.
‘However all of a sudden there was a loud hiss and the boat went down.
‘There’s a good chance the bodies are still in the boat so the families would like, at all costs, to have their boys back.’
Scores of people turned up to a vigil on Saturday night, lining up along the quayside where the ship should have been moored.
Duncan McGregor, from Lochgilphead, wrote: ‘You have all proven that a harbour village means that you are not alone, knowing that in the people, the land, the harbour itself, there is something that belongs to you.’