Search For Missing Fishermen Is Called Off

The search for two missing fishermen has been called off after rescue teams found their vessel, still complete with life raft, at the bottom of the sea.

The wreck of the Purbeck Isle is lying 10 miles off Portland, Dorset, some 50 metres down.

It follows the discovery of the skipper's body.

David McFarlane, 35, was found after the boat failed to return from a trip to sea. His family have been told.

The coastguard, supported by a helicopter, had been continuing to look for two crewmen named locally as Robert Prowse, 23, and Jack Craig, 22.

They have not been seen or heard from since leaving Weymouth on their 36ft "potter"boat on Thursday morning.

The boat was reported missing shortly after 5.30pm the same day.

After the discovery of Mr McFarlane's body it had been hoped his two companions may have taken to the life raft.

Portland Coastguard's Rescue Co-ordination Centre manager Mark Rodaway said: "After a prolonged and extensive three-day search, sadly, the time has now passed when we could have hoped that the two remaining crew members from the Purbeck Isle would be found alive.

"Our final area of investigation was to search for the missing liferaft in the hope that they had been able to board it before the vessel sank, but sadly this new information means that this search will now be terminated.

"Our thoughts are with the families of all three crewmen at this difficult time."