Man in his 20s dies after incident off Plymouth coast

One man has died and another has suffered serious injuries following a medical incident onboard a fishing vessel near Plymouth. There were five people onboard at the time of the incident, around 4pm on Tuesday, December 19. A man in his 20s was confirmed dead at the scene and another sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

HM Coastguard was alerted to calls of a medical emergency[1] on a fishing vessel around 4pm off the coast of Plymouth. Devon and Cornwall Police[2] were then called around 7.30pm to assist. Try PlymouthLive Premium for FREE with no pop-up ads and new features[3] Try DevonLive Premium for FREE with no intrusive ads and brilliant new features[4]

Crews from Salcombe and Plymouth RNLI lifeboats as well as Coastguard helicopter from Newquay and police attended the scene. The boat was brought into Plymouth Harbour and remains there at this time. Both men are from Belgium and police are working with Belgium Authorities to locate and inform the next of kin of the man who died.

Police are also working closely with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and Belgium Authorities. A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were called by HM Coastguard shortly after 7.35pm on 19 December to a report of an incident on board a fishing vessel at sea, off the coast of Devon in the English Channel. The boat was brought into Plymouth Harbour where it remains at this time.

“A man in his 20s, from Belgium, was confirmed deceased at the scene. Devon & Cornwall Police[5] are being supported by Belgium Authorities to locate and inform his next of kin. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be completed on behalf of the coroner. “A second man, also in his 20s and from Belgium, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital where he is receiving treatment.

“Police are working closely with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and Belgium Authorities.” A spokesperson from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency also told PlymouthLive: “HM Coastguard responded to reports of a medical incident on a vessel, with five people on board, off the coast of Plymouth on Tuesday (19 December). “Alerted at around 4pm, Salcombe and Plymouth RNLI lifeboats, the Coastguard helicopter from Newquay, police and a nearby vessel were sent to the scene.

One casualty was airlifted to hospital while the vessel was escorted into Plymouth.”

References

1. ^ HM Coastguard was alerted to calls of a medical emergency (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
2. ^ Devon and Cornwall Police (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
3. ^ Try PlymouthLive Premium for FREE with no pop-up ads and new features (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)
4. ^ Try DevonLive Premium for FREE with no intrusive ads and brilliant new features (www.devonlive.com)
5. ^ Devon & Cornwall Police (www.plymouthherald.co.uk)