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THREE DIE IN CAPSIZED TRAWLER TRAGEDY

Coastguard divers have called off the hunt for a missing Belgian fisherman who they had hoped was trapped alive underneath a capsized vessel in freezing waters off the coast of Sussex.

The bodies of two members of the crew who died in the accident have been recovered from the English Channel. A third crew member, the 19-year-old nephew of the missing man, was rescued alive after spending all night sitting o­n the upturned hull of the ship, according to Coastguard officials. All the fishermen are Belgian.

Just after 8.30am this morning (14 December), Dover Coastguard Maritime rescue coordination centre (MRCC) received a call from the Merchant Vessel, Toledo, reporting that they had sighted the upturned hull of a fishing vessel with a man clinging to it.

Dover Coastguard MRCC called ARCC Kinloss to scramble the Coastguard rescue helicopter and requested the launch of the Eastbourne RNLI lifeboat. The Warship Severn is also assisting in the search along with several other merchant vessels.

The merchant vessel 'Vanquish launched a rescue boat from their vessel to assist.

The Warship 'Severn' was also assisting in the search along with several other merchant vessels.