Sea sighting as crewman lost

A Royal Navy helicopter joined the search

Rescuers looking from a man lost overboard from a fishing boat say they may have seen storm clothing in the English Channel.

The man went missing at 0330 GMT on Monday from a French fishing vessel, Cotealbatre.

He was not wearing a lifejacket when he went overboard, 45 miles south-east of Plymouth.

A spotter plane from the Channel Islands joined the search in near-gale conditions after first light.

Lifeboat crews from Torbay and Salcombe, in Devon, decided to remain at sea in the hope of another sighting.

The spotter plane, Airsearch 1, flew to shore to refuel but then returned to search zone.

Coastguard worker Anne Westcott said: "They thought they saw something in the water that looked like oilskins, which is what the fisherman was wearing.

"They would need a lifeboat on the scene to pick up the casualty, should it be him.

"The lifeboats were out from four o'clock in the morning.

Distress call

"Fuel and weather allowing, they were staying out there until they lost the light."

Rescue helicopters were launched from RNAS Culdrose, on The Lizard, and RAF Chivenor in north Devon.

Both withdrew from the operation during the day.

Three French fishing vessels continued carrying out search sweeps throughout Monday after answering a distress call

Brixham Coastguard began co-ordinating after colleagues at Falmouth were first alerted.

The missing crewman was 25 years old.

A coastguard spokesman said chances of survival were minimal after four or five hours in the sea.