Two missing men found off Coetivy
Two men who went missing during a fishing trip off Coetivy were found yesterday with their boat, but a third man in the group was not on board and is still unaccounted for.
The Seychelles Coast Guard vessel Topaz spotted the fishing boat with George Athanase and Wilhem Laurette ¬– both IDC workers – on board, and the Islands Development Company’s doctor was immediately flown to Coetivy to give medical attention.
Given their weak state, they were flown to Victoria hospital for further observations yesterday and were released after treatment.
The Topaz is still searching for the third man Mickey Lesperance, one of the prison inmates on the rehabilitation programme now being carried out on Coetivy. The police have been informed of the situation and are investigating what may have happened to him.
The three men set out on the 32ft fibreglass boat Trial on Wednesday and were expected to return the same day.
Source: NATION 9-4-10
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Search for three men missing at sea
A search is going on for three men who are missing at sea after going out on a fishing trip off Coetivy island.
The three missing men. From left to right: Laurette, Athanase and Lesperance
They left the island in the 32ft white fibreglass boat Trial at about 7am on Wednesday and were expected back at around 3pm the same day. They have not returned and have not been seen since.
The men on board are George Athanase, Wilhem Laurette – both Islands Development Company workers – and Mickey Lesperance, one of the inmates on the prison rehabilitation programme now being carried out on Coetivy.
On being alerted that same evening, the IDC launched a major search-and-rescue operation, both by air and sea, involving IDC planes, a military plane and the coast guard patrol ship Topaz.
The search is still going on, and boats in the area have been alerted to be on the lookout.
Meanwhile, relatives of the missing men have been informed.
The IDC and the prison authority staff share the concerns of the family members and are hopeful of a positive outcome.
Source: NATION 9-3-10