Call for rocket distress flares after sea deaths

Marine investigators have called for small fishing boats to carry rocket distress flares after a father and son perished at sea, it was revealed today.

Liam and Conor Kennedy were found tied together near their wooden 6m (18ft) shrimp boat Cassie in Donegal Bay after it capsized in heavy swells in December 2007.

They had set off two hand held flares which were not spotted until another local fisherman became concerned, went to look from high ground and spotted red glows in the water.

Both men from the Inver area died from hypothermia in freezing seas as a rescue helicopter was scrambled to the scene.

It took 26 minutes for the Sligo based unit to get to Doorin Point, near Inver, and it is believed the men had been in the water for at least one hour.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board report on the tragedy has recommended boats under 12m carry six rocket parachute flares which shoot 300m in the air and burn for 40 seconds.

It said: “It appears that only hand held flares were carried. These can be seen by other boat users or persons who happen to be in the vicinity but are lost from view if there is a headland in the way or the shore is deserted or even in particularly heavy seas.

“A rocket flare can be seen immediately from a great range.”

An autopsy revealed the men died from hypothermia in water of around 7C, rather than drowning.

Investigators said the helicopter rescue team found the father and son one foot apart tied or entangled together with a 20ft lifebuoy rope.

They had gone out some time after 10am to haul shrimp pots and shift them to deeper water ahead of forecasted bad weather and rough seas.

Within an hour conditions had worsened as the wind picked up and a heavy Atlantic swell hit the bay.

A number of other boats, including one used by Liam’s brother Nellie, were in the area at the time but there were no witnesses to the incident.

The first indication anything was wrong was when another fisherman became concerned he could not see the Cassie, went to high ground to investigate and saw the flares in the water.