Fisherman drowned after boat crashed into rocks, inquiry finds

An investigation has found a fisherman died from drowning after his boat crashed into rocks off the coast of Aberdeenshire.

At around 11.09am on September 21, 2023, creel fishing vessel the Lexi Rose grounded, lost propulsion and capsized in shallow water on Melrose Point, near Macduff.

The lone skipper, Sandy Alexander, went over the side, suffered a head injury either on the vessel or the rocks and drowned.

The skipper of another fishing vessel – which had spoken to the 69-year-old earlier that morning – raced to the scene after hearing a “panicked” call on a high-frequency channel.

Lifeboat crews and HM Coastguard joined a search operation after being alerted to the boat upturned at the base of the cove.

Due to a combination of sea and swell, lifeboat crews were unable to enter the cove and Mr Alexander airlifted from the water by the Coastguard helicopter.

He was pronounced dead during the journey back to Aberdeen.

The vessel’s wreckage wasn’t recovered until six days later due to extreme weather in the area caused by Storm Agnes.

An investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said Mr Alexander had captained commercial trawlers for more than 40 years.

It noted his chances of survival would have been improved had he been wearing a personal flotation device (PFD).

However, the report stated once the boat lost propulsion at the entrance of the cove, he was likely to have had “very little time to take emergency action”.

A safety flyer to the fishing industry was produced with the report, highlighting the dangers of anchor use as an accident prevention method while working close inshore.