FUNDRAISER REACHES £15K AFTER WEST BOAT SINKING
AFUNDRAISER launched following major search operation to find two Brixham fishermen after their boat sank raised nearly £15,000 in just over a day.
The online GoFundMe appeal was launched on Sunday morning by the previous owner of the boat which sank off the Sussex coast in the early hours of Saturday morning. Three people were on board the scalloping fishing vessel Joanna C.
One person, skipper Dave Bickerstaff, 34, was found clinging to a lifebuoy and recovered from the water by the Newhaven lifeboat and transferred to hospital.
Despite an extensive search, two fishermen – named locally as Adam Harper, 26, and Robert Morley, 38 – were still missing by yesterday. Coastguards confirmed that the search was called off at 2.30pm on Sunday.
Former fisherman Tony Rowe, 40, owned the Joanna C vessel for around five years up until 2006. The boat was based in Brixham and Tony sold it when he decided to stop being a fisherman.
After hearing the boat had sunk and of the search for the fisherman, Tony decided to launch an online fundraiser to raise funds for all those affected.
The initial target was £1,000 which was quickly beaten and as of 1.30pm yesterday the rising total raised had reached £14,404.
Tony said: “I’m raising money in aid of The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen so they can distribute to help all those affected.
“Our prayers are with those directly involved and the wider community who all have been affected in some way.
“The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen provide emergency support and practical, financial, emotional and spiritual support to fishermen and their families.”
In another post published on Sunday after the initial target was passed, Tony added: “It has been an overwhelming day.
“Who would of thought in a few hours the community around the fishing industry and further afield would help to raise over £10,000.
“Thank you to all those who have donated and or shared this.”
Further details have emerged about the boating incident. Speaking with The Sun, Mr Morley’s mum said her son is believed to have lost hold of a safety ring he had been clinging to with his friend and skipper, Dave Bickerstaff, 34, who was rescued from the water.
She said Mr Bickerstaff resuscitated her son after he went “blue”, but that he had lost him moments later as they clung to the life ring.