Stowaway dies after jumping overboard

A stowaway has died after jumping overboard in the English Channel after escaping from a ship’s jail today, coastguards said.

The man, 25, from the Ivory Coast, leapt into the sea from the cargo vessel Patricia Delmas, 12 miles south of Eastbourne, East Sussex, at 2.40am.

A search for the man was launched, involving two lifeboats and a rescue helicopter as well as the warship Lindisfarne and the ferry Dieppe, which responded to a broadcast to all shipping.

The stowaway was found in the water one and a half hours later, and taken to Eastbourne Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Dover Coastguard Senior Watch Manager Les Drew said: “The man was a 25-year-old stowaway who came from the Ivory Coast. After he escaped from the ship’s jail, he ran into the accommodation on board the ship, then jumped overboard.

“We would like to praise the master for his fast response in contacting us. It certainly helped in finding him within an hour and a half.”

The container vessel’s next port of call was to be Le Havre in France.