“On Thursday, May 19 at 6:40 p.m., the Regional Operational Center for Surveillance and Rescue (CROSS) in Corsen received an alert from SAMU 29 informing it that three members of a fishing family had been swept away by a blade from the hold of Pors Loubous in Plogoff”, indicates in a press release the maritime prefecture.
“Unless new elements arise, this drama will a priori have no legal consequences, no offense being noted at this stage,” Quimper public prosecutor Carine Halley told AFP.
The two adults, 55 years old for the father and 33 years old for the mother, were recovered around 7:30 p.m. in cardio-respiratory arrest but the rescuers were unable to revive them.
The child’s lifeless body was recovered shortly after 10:00 p.m., leading to the suspension of the search.
Three other children in the family, aged 13 to 15 and who for their part had not climbed the dike, are safe and sound but shocked. They were taken care of by the medical and psychological services.
The tragedy occurred around 6:40 p.m., just over an hour before high tide, in Pors-Loubous. The sea at this location, located a few kilometers from the Pointe du Raz, was agitated by a strong swell but the weather was not unfavorable, said a spokeswoman for the maritime prefecture.
A wave suddenly took the three people on the dike. “They were swept out to sea,” said Finistère prefecture cabinet director David Fotlz.
Witnesses immediately alerted the emergency services and significant resources were deployed, in particular three helicopters, as well as resources from the SNSM (rescue at sea) and firefighters.
Fishermen also came to lend a hand, in particular to search for the body of the young boy, noted Mr. Foltz.
There is “no explanation” for such a tragedy for the moment, no major weather reason, commented Mr. Foltz.
The family had lived in nearby Audierne for several years, he added.
In its press release, the maritime prefecture detailed the very important means implemented to search for the three people: three helicopters (those of the National Navy, Civil Security and Samu), two speedboats of the SNSM (National Rescue Company at sea) from Audierne and the island of Sein, a team of divers, a drone team and a canine team of firefighters also present in large numbers elsewhere.
Among the other resources that participated in the research, there is a maritime affairs patrol boat, the nautical brigade of the maritime gendarmerie and at least one fishing boat.
