Craig Coppock

The local pastor or vicar said, came down to the boat, offered us some counselling. We suggested that if he gave us £20, we would go and self-counsel in the buller's arms, which was just across the road from the boat, but he wasn't keen on that course of action. So I just went for a pint with my dad, just to rehash what had happened. I think he was just checking I was okay.

The local pastor or vicar said, came down to the boat, offered us some counselling. We suggested that if he gave us £20, we would go and self-counsel in the buller's arms, which was just across the road from the boat, but he wasn't keen on that course of action. So I just went for a pint with my dad, just to rehash what had happened. I think he was just checking I was okay.

And then, yeah, we went home and told everything to mother.

And then, yeah, we went home and told everything to mother.

So I was back home from university in London, hoping to spend some time at the beach or relaxing at home, but my father had different ideas.

So I was back home from university in London, hoping to spend some time at the beach or relaxing at home, but my father had different ideas.

His deckhand was on holiday, so he told me that I'd be assisting him on board the boat.

His deckhand was on holiday, so he told me that I'd be assisting him on board the boat.

We used to leave at around 4.30, 5 o'clock in the morning. We'd stop, pick up some newspapers, head down to the boat, and then we'd be out fishing all day until dark. Day started off beautifully, very sunny day, very little wind. Those perfect days on the water where you can see your reflection in the sea.

We used to leave at around 4.30, 5 o'clock in the morning. We'd stop, pick up some newspapers, head down to the boat, and then we'd be out fishing all day until dark. Day started off beautifully, very sunny day, very little wind. Those perfect days on the water where you can see your reflection in the sea.

The kind of days that make you glad you're working on a boat as opposed to the horrible ones where weather is absolutely terrible and you're questioning your life decisions.

The kind of days that make you glad you're working on a boat as opposed to the horrible ones where weather is absolutely terrible and you're questioning your life decisions.

It's fair to say on the first two tows, we weren't catching enough fish to cover expenses.

It's fair to say on the first two tows, we weren't catching enough fish to cover expenses.

Other fishing boats tended to avoid it due to the nature of the seabed, which is rocky and treacherous for nets.

Other fishing boats tended to avoid it due to the nature of the seabed, which is rocky and treacherous for nets.

We brought the net up from the bottom, which involves bringing the cod end on board. The cod end is the very end of the net where all the fish accumulate. Then there's a rope to open it up and that will drop all the fish on the deck. But as soon as we got the cod end up in the air to bring it over the rail of the fishing boat, you could immediately smell something was dead.

We brought the net up from the bottom, which involves bringing the cod end on board. The cod end is the very end of the net where all the fish accumulate. Then there's a rope to open it up and that will drop all the fish on the deck. But as soon as we got the cod end up in the air to bring it over the rail of the fishing boat, you could immediately smell something was dead.

I'd had the occasional dead seal in the fishing net, but this didn't smell like that. I'd never seen or smelt a dead body, but I think something instinctively inside of us knows when you're in that situation. I opened up the cod end, dropped the catch onto the deck, and immediately you could see the figure of a man lying on the deck in between the fish that we'd caught.

I'd had the occasional dead seal in the fishing net, but this didn't smell like that. I'd never seen or smelt a dead body, but I think something instinctively inside of us knows when you're in that situation. I opened up the cod end, dropped the catch onto the deck, and immediately you could see the figure of a man lying on the deck in between the fish that we'd caught.