Trawler rescue operation called off as sixth body found
The body of the remaining crewman from the sunken German trawler has been recovered and the search called off.
The rescue operation was mounted in the Atlantic Ocean last night after the Hansa sent out a distress signal.
The bodies of five other crewmen had been recovered earlier in the day.
Nine of the crew were rescued by helicopter after the ship sank 240 miles west of Tiree in the Western Isles.
A 10th crewman was rescued around midday, after 12 hours in the water, after he was spotted by an RAF Nimrod aircraft.
Rescuers said the lucky crewman owed his life to his survival suit. The all-in-one suit has integral boots and a rubberised collar and cuffs, which prevents water entering while keeping the wearer warm.
Flight Lieutenant Steve James, pilot and crew captain of the Nimrod reconnaissance plane which spotted the final survivor, said the man was lucky to be alive.
He said: "In such conditions he would have constantly been buffeted with spray and, with 45mph winds breaking on his face, it would have been difficult to breathe.
"In addition he had to contend with waves ranging from 15ft to 20ft, the size of a house, and bitterly cold temperatures.
"In those conditions, at this time of year in the Atlantic, to survive 12 hours in the water is getting to the limits of human endurance."
It is believed the man is suffering from mild hypothermia, but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.
Flt Lt James added: "He was picked up by a vessel around noon and I am told that he leapt from the liferaft and swam towards the ship when he saw it coming towards him."
On the significance of the rescue he said: "It is a fantastic feeling to be involved in saving someone's life and when we saw that he had reached the dinghy it really lifted the whole crew."
RAF spokesman Michael Mulford earlier described the rescue as "exceptional" and praised those involved.
He added of the survivor: "He really must have the survival instinct - this is quite exceptional in the history of search and rescue operations."
Sixteen people - one German and 15 Spanish - were on board the trawler. It is believed the German man was among the party of nine rescued last night. The deceased have yet to be named. The cause of the tragedy is being investigated.
