FRENCH coastguards have spoken of their efforts to save four Teignmouth fishermen after their boat sank off Cherbourg.

Two helicopters, one plane and four commercial ships were sent to the zone off the French coast where the Teignmouth-registered Etoile Des Ondes fishing vessel sank after being in a collision with another boat.

Coastguards from the Jobourg station near Cherbourg in North West France, said the crew of the Etoile Des Ondes fell overboard in the freezing sea after the collision.

Water temperature was said to be nine degree Celsius while the air temperature was no more than three degree Celsius.

Three of the fishermen including the captain managed to reach the boat’s life raft.

The fourth crew member did not make it to the raft and disappeared from view.

A spokesman for the French Coastguards said: “The captain was in the cabin at the time and managed to swim under water. One of the sailors on deck did not manage to make to the raft.”

The spokesman said a rescue mission was launched after a passing merchant vessel, the Norman Voyager, raised the alarm after witnessing a red flare. A distress signal was soon received from the Etoile des Ondes.

The spokesman added: “The alarm was raised quickly and we got onto the zone also quickly.

“It was a small search zone to start with. We had two Dolphin and Dragon 50 helicopters and a Falcon 50 search plane from the French Navy.

“Four merchant vessels also rerouted to help with the search.

“We search the area from 7.30pm to 4am.”

The French coastguards spokesman said the three rescued fishermen were fished out of the water by the Norman Voyager before being by helicopter to a French hospital.

An investigation by British maritime authorities into the circumstances of the accident is due to be launched soon.

The French coastguards spokesman said a French navy plane had done one flyover yesterday morning to see if the fisherman, dead or alive, could be located.

He added: “At 4.27am on Monday the search zone having been completely and thoroughly covered, the French maritime authorities decided to stop the search.

“The water and air were really cold and we understand the fisherman was only wearing his boots and waterproof suit.

“Survivability was estimated at three hours. We searched for more than seven hours.

“Unfortunately his chances of survival are almost impossible. It is very likely he is dead.”

A spokesman from Falmouth Coastguard said the other vessel involved in the collision has not been identified.

For full story, see tomorrow's Echo.