BAD WEATHER FORCED BRITISH COASTGUARDS TO CALL OFF A RESCUE OPERATION ON THURSDAY AFTER AN IRISH FISHING VESSEL SANK OFF THE SOUTHWEST COAST, KILLING ONE CREW MEMBER AND LEAVING TWO MISSING FEARED DEAD. TWO HELICOPTERS AND A FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT, ASSISTED BY FOUR MERCHANT SHIPS, RESCUED SEVEN CREW MEMBERS FROM THE IRISH-REGISTERED TRAWLER, THE DINISH, COASTGUARD WATCH ASSISTANT ALEX GREIG TOLD REUTERS. THE BODY OF A SPANISH MAN WAS RECOVERED FROM THE WATER AND TRANSFERRED TO HOSPITAL IN CORK AT ABOUT 4 AM (0300 GMT), SAID A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE IRISH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT. TWO OTHER CREW MEMBERS, INCLUDING ONE FROM WEST AFRICA, ARE STILL MISSING, SHE SAID. THE TRAWLER, CREWED BY SPANISH AND AFRICAN NATIONALS, SANK AT ABOUT 9.30 PM (2030 GMT) ON WEDNESDAY WITHIN THE SPACE OF 10 MINUTES ABOUT 320 KM (200 MILES) SOUTHWEST OF THE SCILLY ISLES AT THE SOUTHWEST TIP OF BRITAIN. THE CORK-BASED CRAFT HAD BEEN SAILING FROM SPAIN TO IRELAND.
