Two tourist fishermen from Russia die as boat capsizes outside Senja

Senja

Two men from Russia in their 50s have been confirmed dead after their boat was found overturned west of Senja in Troms on Tuesday night.

The Russian fishermen were reported missing by the boat owner just after 19.00 on Tuesday evening. A major search was initiated and three hours later the fishing boat was found with its bow in the water.

‘’We want to investigate the matter. The boat will be investigated, as will the equipment on board’’ said operations manager, Beate Helberg of Troms police district to NTB news at midnight on Tuesday.

The operation manager said the men were part of a travel company who were at Senja. Northern Norway’s main rescue center told Nordlys onTuesday night that the travel party includes the fishermen’s wives. They were informed by the municipality of Torsken and will be taken care of.Helberg added that relatives in Russia will also be notified.

Problems

The men departed from the Torsken municipality on Senja in an open 19-foot boat at 10.00 on Tuesday. The last sign of life was at 14.00.

The reason for the boat capsizing is unknown.

‘’We know that the men said that they had some problems, but the reports did not know what they were. It is our responsibility to know what has happened’’ said Helberg.

The fishing boat was found at 22.00. Shortly afterwards, the Main Rescue Center informed Nord-Norge that a person was found in the search area and that the person was flown to hospital. The other person was found found at 23.30, and the rescue operation was then terminated. Both were found west of Senja.

A major search for the men was initiated, and both rescue helicopters,
several lifeboats and several ships participated.

The Red Cross and Norwegian People’s Aid were involved in the search.

The defense force contributed with a Bell helicopter in the beach search.

The fishing boat was hoisted aboard the KV Heimdal for final identification.

Rescue director Jakob Carlsen of HRS said on Tuesday night to Nordlys that the owner himself went out to look for the men. He had been doing it for two hours when he called the police a little later than 19.00. The fishermen should have been in Torsken for several hours and their position should have been well known.

The weather in the area had been changing with some wind during the day.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today

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