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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fishing boat missing in English Channel | Fishing boat missing in English Channel |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two lifeboats and a coastguard rescue helicopter are searching the English Channel for a fishing boat reported missing in the Strait of Dover. | Two lifeboats and a coastguard rescue helicopter are searching the English Channel for a fishing boat reported missing in the Strait of Dover. |
| The Belgian-registered vessel is known to have four people on board, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said. | The Belgian-registered vessel is known to have four people on board, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said. |
| The Dover and Dungeness lifeboats and helicopter were searching for the boat about 10 miles off the Kent coast. | The Dover and Dungeness lifeboats and helicopter were searching for the boat about 10 miles off the Kent coast. |
| A French search and rescue helicopter joined the mission, in conditions described as "very challenging". | A French search and rescue helicopter joined the mission, in conditions described as "very challenging". |
| The owner of the boat said he had not had contact with the crew "since lunchtime". | The owner of the boat said he had not had contact with the crew "since lunchtime". |
| A coastguard spokesman said: "The coastguard has notified other vessels in the surrounding area to remain vigilant and contact them if they locate anything. | A coastguard spokesman said: "The coastguard has notified other vessels in the surrounding area to remain vigilant and contact them if they locate anything. |
| "The weather conditions on scene are very challenging, with rough seas and gale force winds." | "The weather conditions on scene are very challenging, with rough seas and gale force winds." |
| The Dutch coastguard said the Belgian fishing boat had a Dutch skipper. The three crew members are Dutch, Portuguese and Belgian, a spokesman said. | |
| Several fishing boats are also searching and more vessels are on their way from the French port of Boulogne, the Dutch coastguard said. | |
| Tim Ash from the RNLI said the Dungeness lifeboat was launched just after 17:00 GMT and the Dover lifeboat joined the search about two hours later. | |
| He said the two lifeboats were searching about eight miles apart in the English Channel. |