Torness incident: Fisherman dead after empty vessel spotted off East Lothian coast near Dunbar

The man had fallen into the sea and his unmanned boat was discovered shortly after 4pm on Sunday, May 2.

At 4.35pm the UK Coastguard tasked both of Dunbar’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats to help search for the fisherman following the discovery of the empty creel boat.

A rescue helicopter joined the search, along with St Abbs lifeboats and a number of local fishing vessels.

The casualty was found just before 6pm by the rescue helicopter and he was then recovered from the sea.

A Coastguard spokesman said the helicopter crew winched the man from the water at around 5.50pm and attempted to resuscitate him as they flew to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead.

The Dunbar all-weather lifeboat crew recovered the vessel and brought it to the town’s Harbour where police began conducting inquiries into the incident.

A fisherman has been found dead after an empty vessel was discovered a mile northeast of Torness. (Picture credit: RNLI Dunbar Lifeboats)

A spokesman for Dunbar Lifeboat said: “Our deepest condolences go to the family and friends of the person involved.

“We would also like to thank the fishing vessels who helped enormously with the search operation.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "At around 6.05pm on Sunday, May 2, police were called to a report of a man having fallen into the sea from a fishing vessel near Torness.

"Emergency services attended and a 64-year-old man was recovered from the sea.

“He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead.

"There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."

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