A trawler which sank after hitting rocks, claiming two fishermen's lives, crashed because its skipper left the wheel, an investigation has found. The tragedy could also have been avoided if the crew had been wearing life jackets when it went down near Ardglass, Co Down.
Although the body of Donall Gibson (22) was recovered, father-of-two Conor Bogues (26) has been missing since the Greenhill sank last January.
The UK Department of Transport marine accident investigation discovered the wheelhouse was unattended when it foundered. Skipper Conrad Zych (27), who survived, left his lookout to go out on deck with Mr Gibson and Mr Bogues.
Chief Insp Stephen Meyer said: "It's fundamental to what happened here. If he had been in the wheelhouse the vessel would not have run into the rocks and there wouldn't have been an accident."
Mr Zych, who is from Ardglass, was unavailable for comment. Skippers regularly join their crew as they prepare their catch for landing. One industry expert claimed fishermen were under so much pressure that the man in charge often puts the boat on to auto-pilot and goes out on deck to assist.
Although all three men got off the sinking trawler, they were not wearing life jackets. The emergency aids had been stored in the cabins below, making it impossible to get to them as water flooded in.
The crew clung to a life raft canister until it was inflated by the skipper. But it was initially opened upside down, and by the time it was righted both men had disappeared.
The report suggested they may have been struck by the canister as the raft inflated.
Mr Zych was rescued and treated for hypothermia.
"The two who died were young, fit and strong swimmers, but if you go into the water there's the shock element of the accident, particularly if it's as rough as it was that night," said Mr Meyer. "Life jackets are essential for survival." - (PA)