A man has died after two crew members went overboard from a fishing vessel during severe weather off the Northumberland coast on Sunday, according to a BBC news update.
The Coastguard received a mayday call shortly before 16:20 GMT from the Banff-registered Fortitude BF11. The incident happened about 14 miles off Newbiggin. One crew member died. The condition of the other remains unknown.
Related: Two crew members overboard in a North Sea fishing vessel emergency
Mayday call and rescue effort
The mayday triggered a large rescue operation. It involved a Coastguard helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, lifeboats from two RNLI stations, and two nearby fishing vessels. Northumbria Police later confirmed the death. Police said it is not being treated as suspicious.
Severe weather at sea
An RNLI spokesperson said conditions were “very challenging”. They included gale-force winds and a 16-foot swell. Two fishing vessels recovered the casualties. Attempts to place casualty carers aboard were halted due to safety concerns. One casualty was reported to have minor injuries after contact with the skipper.
Escorts to the harbour and investigation
A lifeboat from Tynemouth and a Coastguard helicopter attempted to place medics aboard but had to abort due to weather conditions. Both vessels were escorted to Blyth harbour to await paramedics. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has dispatched inspectors to assess the incident.