Fisherman breaks down describing death of colleagues

A DEVASTATED fisherman broke down as he described how three close colleagues died - including one in his arms - when their scallop dredger capsized off the west coast of Scotland.

Tim Rowley, 33, wept yesterday as he told how the Aquila suddenly overturned "just four seconds" after snagging her gear on the seabed at the Bo Faskadale rocks off Ardnamurchan on 20 July, 2009.

He managed to escape the crew's galley on the 12-metre Cumbrian boat, then tried saving his colleagues, a fatal accident inquiry at Fort William Sheriff Court heard. But the bodies of skipper Tony Hayton, 45, Peter Hilton and Martin Sanderson, both 52, were later found during a search of the sea.

The sole survivor of the tragedy described the tragic events after the vessel snagged on a reef - and claimed he will never return to the sea. He said: "The snag came over hard fast. All of a sudden, water was coming gushing in the door. Four seconds, and the boat was upside down. The boat filled with water. There was a small gap and I said to them 'we are not dying here'."

Mr Rowley, who along with his colleagues was from the small fishing village of Maryport in Cumbria, was in the galley with Mr Hilton and Mr Sanderson. Mr Hayton was in the wheelhouse.

"When the boat was upside down, I took a deep breath and swam down out of the door," he said. "I could see Tony was out, but … I was not able to get to him. I could see he was conscious and was moving, trying to keep himself afloat. I was getting dragged down by my clothes so took my boots and tracksuit bottoms off. It was freezing. I looked about and saw Martin face down. I swam to him and realised he had passed away. He drifted away. I then saw Peter. I saw two planks and got them … I found some green twine and tied Peter to me and the planks.

"He was groaning and moaning, complaining about his back. I managed to keep his head above water. I had his back towards my chest and the board between us. I told him I wasn't going to let him die. But after a while, about 20 minutes, he passed away and died in my arms. I had to let him away to save myself."

Mr Rowley was in the water for almost 90 minutes when he spotted a yacht, adding that he "thrashed about in the water like a seagull" to grab its attention.

He said he had fished for ten years prior to the tragedy, joining Mr Hayton's boat in 2007. But since the accident has refused to return to sea and is unemployed.

"This has affected me very badly," he said. "I am scared to go to sleep and only get two hours at night. I feel guilty because I am here and they are not."

The inquiry continues.