Cruel sea claims two fishermen

Coastguards searching for the three-man crew of a missing trawler recovered two bodies yesterday. The deaths came as an inquiry was launched into the disappearance of another fishing boat; the search for which was delayed for several hours after a mix-up over distress signals.

The bodies of two men from the St Ives-based Gorah Lass were picked up by lifeboats searching off Portreath, north Cornwall, after contact was lost early yesterday morning. They were spotted near wreckage and transferred to a helicopter which took them to RAF St Mawgan, near Newquay, while the search for the third crew member continued.

Mick Quinn, senior watch officer for Falmouth Coastguards, said: "It was flat calm and there was some fog, but we don't think that was the cause.'' He said the search would continue until nightfall and then the situation would be reconsidered.

Meanwhile an official from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch was due to arrive in Aberdeen last night to investigate why the search for a missing trawler and her four-man crew was delayed for eight hours.

Debris from the Arbroath West Haven was found yesterday 100 miles north- east of Aberdeen but there was no sign of the four fishermen. A coastguard spokesman said that no life rafts had been seen, but the search would continue.