Fisherman who drowned in Wester Ross was 'under the influence' of alcohol, fatal accident inquiry hears in Inverness
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A FISHERMAN who drowned after falling from a dinghy after collecting prawns from a raft in a bay in Wester Ross had more than five times the legal amount of alcohol in his blood for driving a fatal accident inquiry has heard.
Duncan Matheson (62) from Shieldaig had set off from the shore with his skipper David Smith (53) and dropped him off on the fishing boat the Fram of Shieldaig which was anchored in Ardheslaig Bay.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson heard Mr Matheson then took the tender dinghy to a raft in the bay to collect prawns which were kept in boxes in the sea.
A Marine Accident Investigations Branch inquiry in June concluded that Mr Matheson, a non-swimmer, had most likely 'slipped or stumbled' and fell into the water while trying to tie up to the fishing boat which was at its mooring in the bay.
The tragedy happened about 8am on August 7 last year.
A police officer later recovered a hip flask containing alcohol from Mr Matheson's body after it had been brought ashore.
Sheriff Neilson heard from Mr Smith of his frantic attempts to save his friend.
Mr Smith told the inquiry they had worked together for five years and he sometimes stayed overnight at Mr Matheson's before setting off to work in the morning.
The skipper said he had gone to the pub the night before for a few drinks. Mr Matheson didn't go to the pub and was already in bed when he returned about 11pm.
They got up about 6.45am and drove the six miles to the bay and got into their oilskins.
They boarded the 'tender' with boxes and bait and after he was dropped off at the fishing vessel he said Duncan took the dinghy to collect prawns from a raft.
"I set up the boat, put the engine on then I put the kettle on to wait for Duncan."
He said the mooring was only 100 yards from the raft and he saw Duncan pulling the prawns on board the dinghy. He returned to his duties then minutes later he saw of Duncan in the water about ten feet from the Fram of Shieldaig.
"He was not moving. He was right next to the boat. The tender was just starting to drift away. It was his head that was sticking out of the water."
Mr Smith said he started to shout but got no response and he used a boat hook to attach to Mr Matheson's oilskin trousers.
"He was too heavy and the boat was too high. There was no movement from him."
Mr Smith said he never saw Duncan fall in the water. He jammed the boat hook in the railings and the way the wind was blowing it took him towards the raft. He said he was convinced Mr Matheson was already dead.
He got got in the dinghy to go back ashore for help. Two other fishermen helped him bring the body back to shore and a coastguard helicopter and ambulance had been summoned.
Mr Smith said there were lifejackets aboard their vessel but they never wore them because they 'were quite clumsy'.
"They are quite bulky for hauling creels."
He said he wears a lifejacket every time he is at sea but he was still traumatised by the tragedy.
Owner of the fishing vessel Kenneth Livingstone (66) said he had known Duncan all his life as they grew up together in Shieldaig.
Duncan he said had worked at the Howard Doris yard at Kishorn before becoming a fisherman.
"Historically fishermen didn't wear life jackets. Strangely when we are sailing we always wear them but it seems tradition we didn't when we were fishing."
He said the crew of his vessel now always wears lifejackets and there are always two crewmen on the dinghy.
Depute fiscal Laura Arthur said a post mortem revealed Mr Matheson had died from drowning and accident investigators concluded his ability to react would have been affected by alcohol and there was no evidence of a medical event which would have caused him to fall overboard.
But he had 276mcgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood - the legal limit for driving is 50mcgs.
Mrs Arthur recommended that all fishermen should follow the advice of the MCA about wearing personal safety equipment and no-one should be on board a vessel intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
Sheriff Neilson expressed the courts condolences to everyone affected by the tragedy.
She will issue her findings later.
