2 sailors missing after a French trawler sinks near British port

BREST, France (AP) — Two sailors were missing Sunday after a French-registered fishing trawler sank southwest of the British port of Plymouth, French authorities said.

The Maranello contacted another trawler, the Stradale, on Saturday to report a problem with its fishing gear. The Stradale managed to recover three of the five crew members before the Maranello sank, the French naval prefecture for the Atlantic said.

Two sailors remained missing despite a major search-and-rescue operation.

The two vessels were located approximately 26 nautical miles southwest of Plymouth, in an area under British responsibility. The Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre took charge of the rescue operation in coordination with French counterparts.

A helicopter evacuated one of the three sailors recovered by the Stradale, who was injured, and transported him to Truro Hospital for treatment. The other two sailors were taken to Plymouth for medical attention.

The search, coordinated by MRCC Falmouth, is pressing on, the maritime prefecture said.

The French Navy’s Falcon 50, along with two British lifeboats and two British aircraft, has been deployed in the search.