COASTGUARD NEWS - SOUTHERN                  

   <Back
Southern 139/01
14 August 2001

VESSEL SINKS OFF BEACHY HEAD

Coastguards say that five people, including two children, have abandoned their sinking fishing boat after it collided with another vessel in the English Channel shortly after 2pm. on 14 August 2001.

Two lifeboats headed to the scene of the accident 16 miles off Beachy Head, at Eastbourne, East Sussex. It was not thought any of the fishermen suffered serious injury.

Beachy Head
Vessel sinks 16 miles off Beach Head
The crew of the stricken vessel had just enough time to transfer to a second fishing vessel that was from Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour as their craft sank.

A Dover Coastguard spokeswoman said: "The five fishermen obviously must have had time to abandon their boat but it must have been fairly hurried. There are no medical emergencies as far as we know."

The accident happened in thick fog.

An investigation will be launched into the collision.