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| Search ends despite wife's plea | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The search for a trawler crew missing in the North Sea has been called off despite a plea by the skipper's wife. | |
| Julia Gardner urged the Norwegian authorities not to give up while a second life raft had not been found. | |
| Four men on the Meridian went missing on Thursday, in storms 160 miles east of Aberdeen. | Four men on the Meridian went missing on Thursday, in storms 160 miles east of Aberdeen. |
| Arrangements are now being made for relatives to travel to Norway to identify a body which was found in the water on Friday. | Arrangements are now being made for relatives to travel to Norway to identify a body which was found in the water on Friday. |
| The crew has been named as 49-year-old skipper Martin Gardner, Edward Gardner, 50, and Ian Donald, 55, all from Anstruther, Fife, and Sidney Low, 52, from Aberdeen. | The crew has been named as 49-year-old skipper Martin Gardner, Edward Gardner, 50, and Ian Donald, 55, all from Anstruther, Fife, and Sidney Low, 52, from Aberdeen. |
| Julia Gardner, wife of Martin Gardner, said she believed the men could still be alive. | |
| I just think if they're under cover there's a possibility they could still be there Julia Gardner | I just think if they're under cover there's a possibility they could still be there Julia Gardner |
| But the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the coastguard in Norway, who had been co-ordinating the search, called off the "thorough and wide-ranging" hunt for the missing vessel as twilight approached on Saturday evening. | But the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the coastguard in Norway, who had been co-ordinating the search, called off the "thorough and wide-ranging" hunt for the missing vessel as twilight approached on Saturday evening. |
| Aberdeen Coastguard watch manager Asad Manesh said: "Following a high quality search by both British and Norwegian resources, as well as a number of fishing vessels and oil stand-by vessels, the search has been terminated. | Aberdeen Coastguard watch manager Asad Manesh said: "Following a high quality search by both British and Norwegian resources, as well as a number of fishing vessels and oil stand-by vessels, the search has been terminated. |
| "Sadly, one body has been located, but no further evidence was found of the other three men." | "Sadly, one body has been located, but no further evidence was found of the other three men." |
| The Norwegian Coastguard, said they considered the area had been very well searched and they had no plans to continue their operations on Sunday. | The Norwegian Coastguard, said they considered the area had been very well searched and they had no plans to continue their operations on Sunday. |
| Debris and an empty raft were found on Friday, but the Meridian was equipped with a second life raft, which had been the focus of the search on Saturday. | Debris and an empty raft were found on Friday, but the Meridian was equipped with a second life raft, which had been the focus of the search on Saturday. |
| The missing men hail from north east Fife and AberdeenEnlarge Image | The missing men hail from north east Fife and AberdeenEnlarge Image |
| Further debris and a survival bag was found, but nothing directly identifiable as coming from the Meridian. | Further debris and a survival bag was found, but nothing directly identifiable as coming from the Meridian. |
| The Kirkcaldy-registered vessel was caught up in force 10 storms when it disappeared off the radar on Thursday. | The Kirkcaldy-registered vessel was caught up in force 10 storms when it disappeared off the radar on Thursday. |
| On Saturday Mrs Gardner said there was one life raft still unaccounted for and that gave her hope that three of the men could still be alive. | On Saturday Mrs Gardner said there was one life raft still unaccounted for and that gave her hope that three of the men could still be alive. |
| She said: "I don't think 40 hours is nearly enough and I think with daylight and better weather they can easily do another day. | She said: "I don't think 40 hours is nearly enough and I think with daylight and better weather they can easily do another day. |
| "We just think three of them are in that life raft somewhere. | "We just think three of them are in that life raft somewhere. |
| "If that's your husband, brother, son or dad, you have to try one more day - just one more day of daylight." | "If that's your husband, brother, son or dad, you have to try one more day - just one more day of daylight." |
| We are doing everything we can to give the East Neuk families our help and support Supt Bill LawrieFife Constabulary | We are doing everything we can to give the East Neuk families our help and support Supt Bill LawrieFife Constabulary |
| She said the men each had 30 years of seafaring experience and were used to harsh weather conditions. | She said the men each had 30 years of seafaring experience and were used to harsh weather conditions. |
| "Yes they'll be cold and wet, they'll be hungry and thirsty, but I just think if they're under cover there's a possibility they could still be there," she said. | "Yes they'll be cold and wet, they'll be hungry and thirsty, but I just think if they're under cover there's a possibility they could still be there," she said. |
| "If they're under cover in a life raft we have to give it a shot." | "If they're under cover in a life raft we have to give it a shot." |
| Meanwhile family liaison officers from Fife Constabulary will accompany family members to Norway for the identification process of the body that was found. | Meanwhile family liaison officers from Fife Constabulary will accompany family members to Norway for the identification process of the body that was found. |
| Supt Bill Lawrie added: "We are doing everything we can to give the East Neuk families our help and support." | Supt Bill Lawrie added: "We are doing everything we can to give the East Neuk families our help and support." |