A Russian crewman from the coaster Sea Melody (1994/3,713dwt) was lost overboard on the night of 18 December 2013 as the vessel was mooring at Gunness on the river Trent in North Lincolnshire in gale-force winds. It was thought that, as the vessel was moving from one jetty to another on the Trent, the crewman got entangled in the ropes and wires in the high winds and was pulled overboard.
An SAR helicopter was on scene within minutes with infrared camera. Although the man was wearing high visibility clothing, no trace of him was found and the helicopter, at the limit of fuel, and in high winds and heavy storms, had to abandon the search. The search was resumed at first light by the Coastguard and Humber Rescue services, but to no avail. RC
