Probe into ferry death
Published: 7:46 AM August 9, 2008
AN investigation is ongoing into the death of a man onboard a ferry near Southend in the early hours of today.
Coastguards were alerted after an electrician who worked on the passenger ferry had been seriously injured at around 2am.
The 21,000-tonne vessel, called the Ark Forwarder, was travelling towards London along the Thames Estuary when the alleged accident happened.
Thames Coastguard liaised with a specialist medical team in Portsmouth and the ferry was advised to continue to Tilbury docks in London, where police and ambulance crews were waiting.
The 52-year-old Polish man was apparently unconscious and was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but he was later pronounced dead after he had been brought ashore.
A spokesman for Thames Coastguard said: "It was decided the most expedient thing to do was for the vessel to get to Tilbury and have facilities waiting for them."
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man's death.