The fishing boat was reported overdue by concerned family members just after 2 pm, Sunday, 16 August 2020.
The UK Coast Guard established communications with the vessel, and it was confirmed that they had hauled a boulder up in their nets, and they were listing heavily.
No further communications were received.
Then, an alert from their 406 EPIRB arrived with an encoded position 18 miles off the North East coast of England.
The coastguard tasked a helicopter and lifeboat to search for the fishing boat in distress.
The lifeboat located their life raft and the two crew, who were wearing lifejackets.
They had abandoned the capsized vessel, which sank before the lifeboat arrived.
The crew fired a red flare when they saw the lifeboat coming.
The two crew, their life raft and their 406 EPIRB were brought onto the lifeboat, with no injuries, but one person entered the water.
Both were taken safely back to Tynemouth.
The vessel was confirmed to have sunk.
“We knew where the crew were, but if we hadn’t, Personal Location Beacons (PLBs) and EPIRBs are a vital tool in an emergency.
“Even more so if they are registered to a person and vessel.
“So help us to help you, and make sure you and your vessel are registered and up to date.”
First Alert: MEOSAR Initial – No position
All subsequent alerts (within seconds): Encoded MEO, LEO and GEO.
Read more here:
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/two-fishermen-rescued-after-boat-18779842