Fisherman died after falling into 'dangerous' seawater trying to rescue crew member

An experienced fisherman died after falling into “very heavy and dangerous” seawater while trying to rescue a member of his crew.

Lachlan Robertson was pronounced dead on June 24, 2021, whilst at sea in the Sound of Rum, between the Isles of Rum and Eigg.

The 61-year-old skippered the fishing boat Reul A’ Chuain, which he had owned since 1999. He had extensive knowledge of the sea waters from the boat’s base at Mallaig into the Sound of Rum and the surrounding waters.

An inquiry into his death found that Mr Robertson and two other crew members, a senior deckhand and junior deckhand, had completed their fishing for the day and were in the process of hauling nets on board when one net slipped from the deck and fell back into the sea.

As weather conditions deteriorated, the crew worked together to retrieve the net through a winch when more of it slipped into the sea.

To prevent more from entering the water, the senior deckhand stood on the netting and used his hands to try to pull it from the water. The deckhand then lost his footing and slipped into the sea.

When attempting to pull him back on board, the boat rolled in a wave and Mr Robertson also fell in.

The senior deckhand managed to secure a rope around the skipper’s waist to allow him to be winched from the water, but he was found to be unconscious and unresponsive.

Despite the efforts of the crew, the RNLI crew and search and rescue paramedics, Mr Robertson was pronounced dead. His cause of death was found to be effects of “immersion in water”.

Sheriff Robert Frazer paid tribute to the crew in his Fatal Accident Inquiry determination.

He praised the junior deckhand’s “admirable common-sense and courage” in dealing with an emergency of the highest degree. He helped to rescue both the senior deckhand and Mr Robertson after they had fallen overboard into very heavy and dangerous sea water and immediately contacted the Coastguard.

He said the senior deckhand is to be commended for keeping Mr Robertson afloat and helping to get him back on board.

The sheriff added: “They [the crew] did all they could to try to keep Mr Robertson alive prior to the arrival of the RNLI crew members and TJ.

“Mr Robertson was regarded as a highly experienced fisherman with an extensive knowledge of the waters in which he fished.

“He was popular with his colleagues and kind to all who knew him, including his much-loved family.”

He concluded that if Mr Robertson had been wearing his lifejacket at the time and if the crew had been familiar with the location and use of the boat’s man overboard recovery equipment, his chances of survival would have been greater.

He added: “I am satisfied that it is not appropriate to make any other recommendations and that the industry’s various regulatory and representative organisations, and in particular the MCA and MAIB, are best placed to understand, monitor and, if needs be, update or change the safety procedures that currently exist to protect all fishermen.

“I am therefore satisfied that the current measures in place, including the steps taken since this accident, adequately address the concerns that have been identified in the investigation and subsequently raised in this inquiry.”