Egyptian fisherman dies on Irish vessel off southwest coast

An Garda Síochána and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) have launched investigations into the death of an Egyptian crewman on board an Irish fishing vessel off the southwest coast.

The 53-year-old crewman was reported to have died following an accident on board the vessel Endurance on Tuesday night.

The man, who was working as a deckhand, was fatally injured during an incident at 7.45pm on board the 23m trawler, which fishes for prawns out of Baltimore in Co Cork.

It is believed that the man suffered serious injuries as the trawler was hauling its nets off the Porcupine Bank, off Loop Head in Co Clare.

The vessel’s captain immediately issued an appeal for assistance.

The man's body was taken to Castletownbere, Co Cork, on Wednesday afternoon.

An MCIB investigator has been assigned to inquire into the death.

Gardaí said they are treating the death as an accident and will prepare a file for an inquest at West Cork Coroner’s Court.

Sympathies

International Transport Workers' Federation co-ordinator for Britain and Ireland Ken Fleming offered his sympathies to the man's family.

Mr Fleming said the death highlighted “continuing issues that need to be addressed by the fishing industry and Ireland’s statutory agencies”.