Fisherman killed as boat capsizes

Thiruvananthapuram: A 40-year-old fisherman died on Saturday after his motorized boat failed and was caught in strong waves off the coast of Perumathura. John Paul of Ennakkidangu Purayidam House, Anchuthengu is the deceased.

According to the police, the mishap occurred around 10.30am while Paul and fellow fishermen were returning to the shore after a nightlong fishing trip. He was part of a three-member crew that had set out into the sea from Anchughengu in a small boat fitted with an outboard engine. Paul was the one who was operating the outboard motor of the boat.

The two fishermen who survived the mishap told the police that as the boat reached a distance of around three kilometres from the shore, its engine failed. However, strong winds and the current helped them drift close to the shore near Perumathura, around 500m south of the Muthalapozhi breakwater here. But, as they got closer to the shore, the intensity of the waves got stronger. They realized that the boat would crash against the shore owing to strong waves. Had it happened, the survival chances would have been lower. Hence they decided to abandon the boat and swim to the shore. While the two others managed to swim to safety, Paul could not. He drowned just a few metres away from the shore. His friends immediately dived back into the sea and helped him get to the shore. He was rushed to Chirayinkeezh Government District Hospital, but the doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The police suspect that besides the strong waves, exhaustion might also have played a key role in the death of Paul. His friends told the police that until the moment they decided to abandon the boat, Paul was desperately trying to repair the motor and restart it.

Paul is the fourth person to lose life in the sea at Anchuthengu. Three weeks ago, a five-year-old boy had died after he was swept away by strong waves while standing close to the sea along with his brother. Two days later, a 19-year-old man drowned after his boat capsized near Perumathura. A week later, a 57-year-old fisherman died after his boat capsized at the mouth of Muthalapozhi breakwater, which is a danger zone for the fishermen using small boats. All these mishaps, including the death of Paul on Saturday, have happened while the district collector’s warning to stay away from the sea based on weather alerts was in effect. The collector had issued a warning on Friday asking fishermen not to venture into the sea till Tuesday after India Meteorological Department predicted strong winds with speed ranging from 40 to 45 km/hour along the coasts of Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep. The collector has on Saturday extended the ban till Wednesday.


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