Body Found In Missing Boat Search

Rescuers searching for a missing fishing boat off the Devon coastline in gale-force conditions have found a body.

The hunt for the 19ft fishing boat JCK was stood down after a body was discovered by the Exmouth RNLI lifeboat, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said. 

The boat was last seen at 6.25pm on Monday heading past Thatcher Rock, a small island a short distance from the mainland, across the water from Torquay. The red-colour vessel and its one-man crew had been due back at Brixham harbour at 7pm. 

Devon and Cornwall Police said the body of a man was found in the water by the Exmouth lifeboat about three nautical miles north east of Hope's Nose, a rocky headland at the northern end of Torbay, near Torquay. Next of kin had been notified, the force said. 

A full-scale search of the coastline was launched after the fishing vessel was reported missing. 

A Brixham Coastguard spokesman confirmed that the search had been called off following the discovery of the body. He said: ``Debris of the JCK has also been found at various points off the coastline. It is believed that the body is that of the fisherman on board the JCK. The search has been called off. ``Because of the gale-force weather, we think the rest of the vessel will be blown ashore by itself.''