Lifejacket Could Have Saved Scots Fisherman, Investigation Finds

A fisherman sadly died after his boat flipped over. The investigation suggests a lifejacket could have helped him. Sandy Alexander, age 69, was fishing alone at Melrose Point in Aberdeenshire when the incident occurred. His boat hit something, then capsized, causing him to fall into the water. He suffered a severe head injury and drowned.

The report from the accident investigators revealed that Sandy was fishing near the shore in waves about one to one and a half meters high. His boat, Lexi Rose, struck ground around 11:09 AM on September 21, 2023. The engine likely hit a rock underwater, causing it to break off, resulting in a loss of power and subsequent grounding of the vessel. This chain of events led to the boat capsizing.

He probably had little time to react, making actions like dropping anchor likely impossible. Calling for help or putting on a life vest were also unlikely. Mr. Alexander, a resident of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, sometimes wore a PFD while fishing. The report specifically stated that a PFD could have saved his life.

Earlier that morning, Sandy spoke with another skipper nearby, agreeing to provide mutual support if needed. Then the other skipper heard Sandy’s panicked radio call, reporting that he needed a lifeboat because his engine had stopped and he was ashore. The other skipper sped toward Sandy’s location.

As he was heading over, Sandy called again, sounding even more panicked and repeating his need for a lifeboat because his boat was sinking. The skipper called the harbor master, who, then alerted the Coast Guard, to the emergency. The other skipper reached the area around 11:12 AM.

Upon arrival, he discovered the flipped boat, Lexi Rose, but was unable to reach it due to the size of his own vessel. He searched the water for Sandy until the lifeboat arrived at 11:37 AM; they also could not enter the area. A helicopter arrived at the scene at midday and found Sandy in the water.

He was winched onto the helicopter, but sadly, the helicopter crew pronounced him dead on the way to Aberdeen. The post-mortem examination confirmed that the cause of death was a head injury combined with drowning.

The report indicated that Sandy appeared accustomed to working alone near the shore and may not have fully realized the danger the conditions presented. Losing power could quickly become uncontrollable, and environmental conditions added further risk.

The accident investigation branch issued a safety warning to the fishing industry, sharing lessons learned from this tragic event.