Missing fishing boat: Two bodies found in search for Belgian trawler

The search has been called off until tomorrow

Teams searching in the English Channel for a Belgian-registered fishing boat which went missing in rough seas and high winds yesterday have found two bodies, the RNLI has confirmed.

Last night, rescue crews were searching for the trawler and its four crew members in the Dover Strait, after its owner lost contact with the vessel in the afternoon.

On Thursday morning, a major air-sea search operation resumed in an attempt to find the 130ft (40m) fishing boat after it disappeared.

RNLI lifeboat crews were sent to investigate debris spotted by an aircraft on the French side of the Channel north-west of Boulogne.

The bodies of two people have now been recovered. As darkness fell on the Strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, the search operation was suspended as darkness has fallen in the Strait.

An RNLI spokesman said: “Three RNLI lifeboats have been out participating in the search today and we are aware that two bodies have been recovered.

”The search has now been suspended as darkness has fallen. However, this is still an ongoing and sensitive operation.“

Dutch and Belgian fishing boats deployed in the area where the vessel went missing in the hope of finding some trace.