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Capsized boat: Search for missing fishermen 'called off' for day | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A search for two missing fishermen who disappeared when their boat capsized in the English Channel has been called off for the day. | |
The Belgium-flagged vessel overturned off the Kent coast at about 23:00 GMT on Tuesday, the BBC understands. | |
One person - spotted clinging to the upturned hull of the boat - was rescued almost nine hours later, at 07:30 GMT. | |
Kaimes Beasley, of Dover Coastguard, said it would be possible to survive in the water for about 15 hours. | |
Two helicopters, including one from the Belgian search and rescue service, plus three lifeboats have been involved in the search. | Two helicopters, including one from the Belgian search and rescue service, plus three lifeboats have been involved in the search. |
The operation was called off late Wednesday afternoon due to fading light, Ramsgate lifeboat said. | |
'Hypothermia risk' | 'Hypothermia risk' |
Mr Beasley said: "Weather conditions overnight were relatively benign, winds were not terribly strong and the sea had been calm. | |
"Either way, it is still the North Sea in the winter and would have been very cold. | "Either way, it is still the North Sea in the winter and would have been very cold. |
"In the southern North Sea, water temperature is about 9.5C and the air temperature less than that. | "In the southern North Sea, water temperature is about 9.5C and the air temperature less than that. |
"There is a significant risk in terms of hypothermia." | "There is a significant risk in terms of hypothermia." |
At the scene: BBC reporter Simon Jones in Dover | At the scene: BBC reporter Simon Jones in Dover |
The emergency services were first alerted at daylight when a passing boat saw the upturned vessel with one of the crew members standing on it. | The emergency services were first alerted at daylight when a passing boat saw the upturned vessel with one of the crew members standing on it. |
He was able to tell them that two of his colleagues were unaccounted for. | He was able to tell them that two of his colleagues were unaccounted for. |
Earlier, two divers and a doctor from Belgium were lowered on to a Ramsgate lifeboat to join the search for the two missing fishermen. | Earlier, two divers and a doctor from Belgium were lowered on to a Ramsgate lifeboat to join the search for the two missing fishermen. |
The operation is focussing on an area just up the coast from here in an area known as North Foreland. | The operation is focussing on an area just up the coast from here in an area known as North Foreland. |
That is where the lifeboats were searching for much of the morning and continuing into the afternoon. |