Search continues for two missing crew after French fishing boat sinks off Plymouth in English Channel
An RNLI lifeboat is among the vessels set to be deployed to search for five people on board a French fishing vessel reported to have sunk off Plymouth.
Lifeboat crews from Newlyn and Salcombe took over search duties on Sunday morning, following overnight efforts by Plymouth and Falmouth RNLI teams, as the large-scale operation south-west of Eddystone Lighthouse continued with aircraft, coastguard helicopters and more than 15 vessels. The French-registered fishing boat issued a distress call shortly after 6pm on Saturday before going down with five crew aboard. Three survivors were recovered from the sea and hospitalised, while two others are still missing.
A French naval warship, FS Flamant, was deployed from HMNB Devonport to join the search operation.
The French Embassy has been alerted and is reportedly liaising with the families of those on board.
Moderate to rough seas and deteriorating visibility overnight made the search conditions significantly harder.
