The death of a man who fell into the North Sea is being investigated by officers from Cleveland Police's murder team, as Teeside Live reports. The incident saw the man fall overboard from a transfer vessel at around 2.05pm on Monday, September 26, as he attempted to move between vessels.
His fellow crew members rescued him from the water and performed casualty care until the emergency services arrived. However, the man was pronounced dead not long after.
A post-mortem will take place in due course to determine the cause of death. A major enquiry team and homicide detectives will also investigate the circumstances of the tragic incident.
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called at 2.16pm yesterday to assist the RNLI with a rescued patient arriving back at the lifeboat station in Hartlepool. We dispatched the air ambulance, a paramedic crew and a clinical team leader."
Speaking to Teeside Live, a spokesperson from Cleveland Police added: "Just after 2.30pm yesterday police received a report that a crew member from a ship registered overseas had fallen into the water at Hartlepool whilst moving between vessels. He was brought out of the water by colleagues and assisted by the RNLI then treated at the scene by paramedics, but very sadly he was pronounced deceased a short time afterwards.
"Detectives from the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team are continuing enquiries in conjunction with other specialist agencies to establish the circumstances of this incident. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course to ascertain the cause of the man's death.
"Our thoughts remain with his family and colleagues at this difficult time."
