Sheriff found that Mr Monk died as a result of a drowning accident.

The May C had been operated by Mr Monk for around 12 years

Michael Monk, 59, was the owner and skipper of a creel fishing boat, the May C.

On July 24, 2019, Mr Monk arrived at Peters Port, Benbecula, rowed out to his boat and made his way to Loch Carnan to fish.

The crewmen of another fishing boat, the Sparkling Star, saw Mr Monk periodically as they were tending to their creels in the same area. They last saw Mr Monk around 12 midday.

At about 12.30pm the crew of the Sparkling Star became concerned as May C seemed to be very close to inshore rocks and they went to investigate. They found no one was on board, the outboard engine was in the raised position and not running and the generator which hauls the creels was still running. There were no creels in or around the boat.

A search began and moments later he was seen face down in the sea between Loch Carnan and Peters Port, close to his boat. He was not wearing a personal flotation device. The skipper of the Sparkling Star made a “Mayday” call and the Coastguard tasked the RNLI, HM Coastguard and an ambulance to attend.

The crew of Sparkling Star were unable to lift Mr Monk on board but secured his head out of the water and took him to a nearby fish farm cage, where he was lifted onto and CPR commenced.

A paramedic pronounced Mr Monk dead and the cause of death was subsequently confirmed as drowning.

The MAIB carried out an investigation but made no recommendations in view of industry initiatives and those made in their report into the fatal man overboard incident from the single-handed fishing boat Sea Mist.

The cause of the accident resulting in the death of Mr Monk, was a man overboard event. The precise circumstances are unknown because Mr Monk was working alone.

The sheriff remarked had Mr Monk been wearing a lifejacket it might realistically have resulted in his death being avoided. Given that the precise mechanism of the accident which resulted in Mr Monk falling overboard are unknown it cannot be determined whether there are precautions which might realistically have resulted in that accident being avoided.