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Tragic fisherman "got caught in ropes" 12.10.09

YOUNG Greencastle fisherman Mark Duffy was dragged into the sea after being caught in crab fishing ropes off the Orkney Islands, it's been reported. The search for the 21-year old from Upper Drumaweir, was officially called off on Friday evening, Shetland Coastguard last night confirmed. However, Mr Duffy's crewmates, some also from Donegal, continued searching the area where he fell in until Saturday afternoon.
The Kirkwall-registered Noronya at sea. The Kirkwall-registered Noronya, was fishing 12 miles off the Brough of Birsay, an island off west Orkney, when the incident happened around 4.10am. Sea temperatures were around 10 to 12 degrees at the time, putting survival at between three and four hours.
Mr Duffy, who was not 
wearing a lifejacket, was pulled into the sea by his pot ropes and seen to disappear underwater, according to a report in The Scotsman newspaper. The vessel immediately reversed and released the rope but the local man tragically did not resurface. Shetland Coastguard's Marina Massie yesterday confirmed that the official air and search was stood down around 5.30pm on Friday. She said Mr Duffy's crewmates continued until 1.30pm on Saturday when the Noronya finally returned to port. Downings crab fishing boss, Pete McBride told InishowenNews.com that Mr Duffy had previously worked for him for about a year and was "a very hard worker". For Mr McBride's comments and previous story, click here.
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