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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Search extended for missing crew | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An extended area of the North Sea is being searched for the crew of a missing Scottish trawler. | |
| One body was found on Friday along with an empty life raft and rescuers are continuing to look for three crewmen. | One body was found on Friday along with an empty life raft and rescuers are continuing to look for three crewmen. |
| A distress signal was picked up from the Meridian on Thursday night, in severe seas 160 miles east of Aberdeen. | A distress signal was picked up from the Meridian on Thursday night, in severe seas 160 miles east of Aberdeen. |
| The crew are 49-year-old skipper Martin Gardner, Edward Gardner, 50, and Ian Donald, 55, all from Anstruther, Fife, and Sidney Low, 52, from Aberdeen. | The crew are 49-year-old skipper Martin Gardner, Edward Gardner, 50, and Ian Donald, 55, all from Anstruther, Fife, and Sidney Low, 52, from Aberdeen. |
| Fife Constabulary have not yet released the identity of the recovered body. | Fife Constabulary have not yet released the identity of the recovered body. |
| Still we are searching as long as we find the slightest hope of finding anyone alive Anders Bang-AndersenNorwegian Coastguard | Still we are searching as long as we find the slightest hope of finding anyone alive Anders Bang-AndersenNorwegian Coastguard |
| Debris and an empty life raft were discovered in the water on Friday afternoon, but the Meridian was equipped with a second life raft which is the focus of the search. | Debris and an empty life raft were discovered in the water on Friday afternoon, but the Meridian was equipped with a second life raft which is the focus of the search. |
| Rescue teams have been working round the clock to find the men, who were carrying out observation work for oil firm Talisman Energy in Norwegian waters. | Rescue teams have been working round the clock to find the men, who were carrying out observation work for oil firm Talisman Energy in Norwegian waters. |
| They extended their search area by several nautical miles on Saturday afternoon, to take into account changing currents and winds. | |
| The Kirkcaldy-registered vessel had been caught up in force 10 storms when it disappeared off the radar on Thursday night. | The Kirkcaldy-registered vessel had been caught up in force 10 storms when it disappeared off the radar on Thursday night. |
| The weather has now improved in the area giving good conditions for ships and aircraft looking for survivors. | The weather has now improved in the area giving good conditions for ships and aircraft looking for survivors. |
| RAF crews spotted debris in the water during their search | RAF crews spotted debris in the water during their search |
| Two Norwegian aircraft are involved in the search, along with a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer, in Northumberland, and a Nimrod from RAF Kinloss, in Moray. | Two Norwegian aircraft are involved in the search, along with a Sea King helicopter from RAF Boulmer, in Northumberland, and a Nimrod from RAF Kinloss, in Moray. |
| Several fishing boats and oil standby vessels are also assisting efforts to locate the crew. | Several fishing boats and oil standby vessels are also assisting efforts to locate the crew. |
| Anders Bang-Andersen, of the Norwegian Coastguard, said the operation would continue as long as there was daylight. | Anders Bang-Andersen, of the Norwegian Coastguard, said the operation would continue as long as there was daylight. |
| He said: "Still we are searching as long as we find the slightest hope of finding anyone alive - and even longer. | He said: "Still we are searching as long as we find the slightest hope of finding anyone alive - and even longer. |
| "We have to evaluate throughout the day what is the realism in continuing the search in the scale that we have now." | "We have to evaluate throughout the day what is the realism in continuing the search in the scale that we have now." |
| Meanwhile, specialist officers from Fife Constabulary are continuing to support families in the East Neuk following the disappearance of the Meridian. | |
| We are doing everything we can to give the East Neuk families our help and support while the search for their missing loved ones goes on Supt Bill LawrieFife Constabulary | |
| A spokesman said family liaison officers would accompany family members to Norway in the identification process of the body found in the search area. | |
| Supt Bill Lawrie said: "This is an immensely difficult time for all four families concerned. | |
| "We are doing everything we can to give the East Neuk families our help and support while the search for their missing loved ones goes on." | |
| Anstruther councillor Elizabeth Riches said people were still in shock but holding out hope. | |
| She added: "This is a very strong and protective community, which, sadly, is used to fishing disasters. | |
| "These close-knit ties are helping the people of the East Neuk through this distressing and troubling time." |