A man remains missing after a fishing boat sank eight miles off the West Country coastline. A major search and rescue mission was launched after crews were alerted to the vessel going down.
The RNLI says it joined search efforts to locate two people who had capsized off Torquay coast on May 19. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCGA) along with RNLI, police and ambulance service were all called to the scene at around 10.30am, reports Devon Live.
The MCGA confirmed that following an extensive search, one person was rescued by lifeboat and passed into the care of police and the ambulance service. A second man has not been found.
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The search for the man, said to be in his 70s, was terminated at around 7pm the Coastguard confirmed. In a statement on the RNLI website, Exmouth RNLI reported that it was called after a 20ft angling boat sank.
Exmouth RNLI was called to the incident at around 11.09am. A full statement reads: "At 11.09am Friday May 19 2023, H.M. Coastguard tasked the volunteer crew of Exmouth RNLI all weather lifeboat 13-03 R & J Welburn to a report of a 20ft angling boat having sunk off Torquay with two persons reportedly on board. The launch was authorised by Deputy Launch Authority, Rob Anderson.
"Torbay RNLI Severn Class Lifeboat 17-28 Alec & Christina Dykes, two H.M. Coastguard search and rescue helicopters from Lee-on-Solent and St. Athan, an H.M. Coastguard fixed wing aircraft and multiple private vessels were already engaged in the search.
"The charity’s lifeboat launched immediately, manned by lifesavers Steve Hockings-Thompson, Roger Jackson, Guy Munnings, Andrew Stott, James Edge and Roy Stott. They arrived on scene and were tasked to convey one casualty, recovered from the water by Torbay RNLI, to Exmouth Harbour and a waiting ambulance. The casualty was taken ashore by Dep. Coxswain Roger Jackson whose place on board the lifeboat was taken by Geoff Mills.
"The lifesavers then returned to the scene where they were tasked to commence a wide area parallel track search over several hours at the last known location of the casualty vessel for a second individual who was still missing.
"After extensive coverage of the area by numerous search and rescue assets and other vessels throughout the afternoon and early evening, with nothing being found H.M. Coastguard called off the search at about 7.00pm."
Devon and Cornwall Police previously said that the missing person is a man in his 70s. A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police received a report yesterday [19 May] of a small vessel sinking around eight miles off the coast of South Devon earlier in the day.
"The Coastguard have reported that they have recovered one man from the water who was checked over by the Ambulance Service; however one man in his 70s still remains outstanding at this time. His next of kin have been informed.
"Devon & Cornwall Police are now investigating this matter in consultation with the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau (MAIB) and enquiries are ongoing."
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