A serious accident off Hanstholm on Sunday evening has cost a 55-year-old fisherman his life. The cutter HM 335 Flipper listed in heavy weather and collided with the northeastern breakwater at the entrance to Hanstholm Harbour, writes Nordjyske.
According to the Central and West Jutland Police, the man, who is from the local area, was rescued from the water in critical condition and flown to the hospital, but his life could not be saved.
There were four people on board the cutter, which had been at sea since Friday. The three other crew members, aged 21, 21, and 33, were rescued ashore alive despite the extreme conditions with waves of up to 7.5 meters.
According to the duty officer at the Central and West Jutland Police, the fishermen experienced problems with the boat’s steering and decided to return home early, but collided with the breakwater as they were heading in, after which the boat quickly took on water.
The relatives of the deceased have been notified.
Difficult rescue effort in stormy weather
The accident triggered a major rescue operation involving the Defense, the rescue services, and local forces. A rescue helicopter was dispatched to the scene, while rescue personnel on land tried to get close to the accident site via the breakwater.
The heavy waves made it impossible for the Hanstholm rescue station to launch the rescue boat. Instead, two rescuers were sent out onto the breakwater to assist the helicopter crew. Both later had to be treated at the hospital for minor injuries.
A nearby offshore vessel assisted the rescue work by illuminating the area with spotlights while the rescue was underway in the dark.
The police assess that the combination of heavy waves and technical problems with the vessel’s steering led to the accident, but the Danish Maritime Authority will conduct a further investigation of the incident.
The three surviving crew members are without physical injuries but are naturally deeply affected by having lost a colleague, the duty officer told the newspaper.
-emte
