Fisherman's fall 'a 1 in a million death'

Des, 29, may have slipped on trawler & hit head says inquiry

- SEAN MCCARTHAIGH

A FISHERMAN was killed on a trawler 15 months ago after "a very unfortunate common slip or fall", an official inquiry by marine investigators said.

Des Hurley, 29, from Kinsale, Co Cork, suffered fatal injuries in the accommodation deck of a family-owned fishing vessel, Breizh Arvor II, on December 14, 2023.

The incident occurred while the 22.5-metre trawler was fishing for prawns in the Porcupine Basin around 100 nautical miles off the Blasket Islands, Co Kerry.

A report by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board said circumstantial evidence indicated Mr Hurley may have missed a step or slipped before hitting his head off a hard surface.