Man dies after going overboard from Aberdeenshire fishing boat during severe weather

A man has died after falling overboard from an Aberdeenshire fishing boat during severe weather.

The alarm was raised at around 4.20pm on Sunday after two men fell from the Banff-registered BF11 fishing vessel, Fortitude, around 14 miles off the coast of Newbiggin in Northumberland.

A multi-agency rescue operation, involving a Coastguard helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, lifeboats from RNLI stations Amble and Tynemouth, and two nearby boats, was launched.

Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team, North East Ambulance Service and Northumbria Police also attended as part of the response.

Northumbria Police confirmed one of the men died. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We can sadly confirm the death of a man at sea off the coast of Blyth, on Sunday, January 11.

“His next of kin have been informed.

“There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, and a report has been prepared for the coroner.

“As is standard practice with incidents of this nature, we continue to support the Marine Accident Investigation Branch with their enquiries.”

A spokesperson for the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said: “The MAIB has deployed a team of inspectors to conduct a preliminary assessment into a person overboard incident which occurred north-east of Blyth from the UK-registered fishing vessel Fortitude.”