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| Fishermen dies after sea rescue | Fishermen dies after sea rescue |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A 50-year-old fisherman has died in hospital after his boat capsized off the coast of Fife. | A 50-year-old fisherman has died in hospital after his boat capsized off the coast of Fife. |
| Emergency services said two crew members were on board the 18ft boat when it went down shortly after leaving Methil Harbour. | Emergency services said two crew members were on board the 18ft boat when it went down shortly after leaving Methil Harbour. |
| One of the men managed to swim back to shore and raised the alarm at 1230 BST. | One of the men managed to swim back to shore and raised the alarm at 1230 BST. |
| His companion was found after a search in poor weather conditions, but later died. He had spent about four hours in the water. | His companion was found after a search in poor weather conditions, but later died. He had spent about four hours in the water. |
| A spokesman for Fife Constabulary said the two men, from the Leven area, had left Methil shortly after 0700 BST to go fishing. | A spokesman for Fife Constabulary said the two men, from the Leven area, had left Methil shortly after 0700 BST to go fishing. |
| They got into difficulty at about 0930 BST and the boat, which is thought to have been recently purchased, sank half a mile from Leven Power Station. | They got into difficulty at about 0930 BST and the boat, which is thought to have been recently purchased, sank half a mile from Leven Power Station. |
| They were wearing waterproof jackets and trousers but neither were wearing lifejackets. We are also unaware of any other safety equipment being carried Bob AbercrombieForth Coastguard | They were wearing waterproof jackets and trousers but neither were wearing lifejackets. We are also unaware of any other safety equipment being carried Bob AbercrombieForth Coastguard |
| One of the crew members, a 42-year-old man, swam back to shore to obtain assistance for his companion, who was not a strong swimmer. | One of the crew members, a 42-year-old man, swam back to shore to obtain assistance for his companion, who was not a strong swimmer. |
| However, due to the prevailing weather conditions, it took him about three hours to reach the shore and raise the alarm. | However, due to the prevailing weather conditions, it took him about three hours to reach the shore and raise the alarm. |
| Forth Coastguard launched a major search and rescue operation involving RNLI lifeboats from Kinghorn and Anstruther, as well as a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer and a number of fishing boats, tankers and other civilian vessels which were in the Forth Estuary at the time. | Forth Coastguard launched a major search and rescue operation involving RNLI lifeboats from Kinghorn and Anstruther, as well as a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer and a number of fishing boats, tankers and other civilian vessels which were in the Forth Estuary at the time. |
| The fisherman, who was not wearing a lifejacket, was spotted by a fast rescue craft that had been launched from a passing tanker and winched onto the RAF rescue helicopter at about 1400 BST. | The fisherman, who was not wearing a lifejacket, was spotted by a fast rescue craft that had been launched from a passing tanker and winched onto the RAF rescue helicopter at about 1400 BST. |
| It is thought he was clinging onto a creel marker buoy. | |
| He was airlifted to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy where he died a short time later. | He was airlifted to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy where he died a short time later. |
| Smoke alert | Smoke alert |
| The other male was released from hospital after being treated for mild hypothermia and exhaustion. | The other male was released from hospital after being treated for mild hypothermia and exhaustion. |
| The identities of the two men involved have not yet been released. | The identities of the two men involved have not yet been released. |
| Bob Abercrombie, watch manager at Forth Coastguard, said the incident highlighted the "absolute necessity" of wearing a lifejacket and carrying suitable communications and safety equipment on board at all times. | Bob Abercrombie, watch manager at Forth Coastguard, said the incident highlighted the "absolute necessity" of wearing a lifejacket and carrying suitable communications and safety equipment on board at all times. |
| He added: "They were wearing waterproof jackets and trousers but neither were wearing lifejackets. We are also unaware of any other safety equipment being carried. | He added: "They were wearing waterproof jackets and trousers but neither were wearing lifejackets. We are also unaware of any other safety equipment being carried. |
| "The weather on scene was around 20 knots south westerlys making the sea choppy and certainly difficult to swim in. | "The weather on scene was around 20 knots south westerlys making the sea choppy and certainly difficult to swim in. |
| "At around 2pm a vessel taking part in the search, the fast rescue craft from the tanker Audacity, sighted a man's body in the water, and a nearby yacht let off a smoke alert to guide the rescue helicopter to their position. The man was then airlifted to hospital." | "At around 2pm a vessel taking part in the search, the fast rescue craft from the tanker Audacity, sighted a man's body in the water, and a nearby yacht let off a smoke alert to guide the rescue helicopter to their position. The man was then airlifted to hospital." |