A tragic incident highlights the importance of lifejackets in fishing safety.
Topics covered
Lifejacket use could have saved Aberdeenshire skipper’s life, report says
A recent official report has shed light on the tragic drowning of Sandy Alexander, a 69-year-old skipper from Aberdeenshire, emphasizing the critical role that lifejackets play in ensuring safety at sea.
The investigation, conducted by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), concluded that Alexander’s chances of survival could have significantly improved had he been wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) during his fishing expedition.
Details of the incident
On a fateful day in September 2023, Alexander was operating his Banff-registered creel boat, The Lexi Rose, near Melrose Point, east of Macduff.
While fishing alone in shallow waters, he encountered difficulties when the boat’s propeller struck a submerged rock. Despite his extensive experience of over 40 years in fishing, Alexander was found dead in the water, suffering from severe head injuries.
Final communications and rescue efforts
In the moments leading up to the tragedy, Alexander made several distress calls over the radio, urgently requesting assistance from a lifeboat. His final messages included desperate pleas: “Lifeboat, lifeboat, lifeboat. We’re ashore, engine stopped, need a lifeboat.” Tragically, despite the swift response from the Macduff inshore lifeboat, the crew faced challenges entering the cove due to adverse sea conditions, which ultimately hindered their ability to locate and rescue him in time.
The importance of lifejackets in fishing
The report’s findings underscore a vital safety message for fishermen, particularly those operating alone. It highlighted that Alexander, known to be a non-swimmer, occasionally wore a lifejacket while fishing. However, on this occasion, he was not equipped with one, which the report indicated could have made a significant difference in his survival chances. The document stated, “The skipper’s chances of survival would have been improved had he been wearing a PFD.”
While the report did not issue specific safety recommendations, it serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent risks associated with single-manned fishing operations. The fishing community is urged to prioritize safety measures, including the consistent use of lifejackets, to prevent such tragedies in the future.
