A major search is taking place off Newhaven, East Sussex after a Brixham registered fishing vessel JOANNA C sank this morning, Saturday 21st November.
One of the three crew members has been found clinging to a lifebouy, he has been transferred to hospital.
The Coastguard were alerted to the incident at around 6am.
Other fishing vessels in the area are assisting with the search.
A Spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “The search began at 6am on Saturday morning, when HM Coastguard received an EPIRB alert located three nautical miles off the coast at Seaford near Newhaven, from the EPIRB (emergency beacon) from the vessel.
“HM Coastguard immediately sent the Coastguard rescue helicopter from Lydd, supported by the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Lee On Solent and RNLI all weather lifeboats from both Newhaven and Eastbourne. Birling Gap Coastguard Rescue Team has been sent to check for sightings from the shore.
“Other fishing vessels in the area responded to the Coastguard radio broadcasts and have been helping with the search.
“The fishing vessel JOANNA C is a 45 foot scalloping vessel, registered in Brixham and three people were on board at the time of the sinking.”
Piers Stanbury, HM Coastguard Controller and the National Maritime Operations Centre said, “Thankfully one of the three people on board at the time of sinking has been pulled out of the water and brought to shore by the Newhaven RNLI lifeboat but the intensive air and sea search for the two missing crew continues. Debris has been located close to location of the EPIRB alert location but no life raft has been found as yet.”
You can join us on our social media pages, follow us on Facebook or Twitter and keep up to date with whats going on in South Devon.
Got a news story, blog or press release that you’d like to share or want to advertise with us? Contact us
