Trawlerman lost colleague minutes before rescue
The last man rescued from the stricken trawler Hansa held on to his brother-in-law for 12 hours but lost him five minutes before help arrived.
Juan Jesus Caamano survived in the icy Atlantic despite losing a liferaft and being buffeted by high winds. He had clung to Victor Bretal Santos until the pain in his arms made him let go. A rescue helicopter arrived five minutes later.
The men were part of a 16-man fishing crew which went down near the Scottish isle of Mull on Monday. Six of the men died.
John Hamilton, of the fishermen's mission in Stornoway, attempted to console Mr Caamano and the other survivors.
He said: "Mr Caamano was completely traumatised. I don't think I have ever seen anybody in that sort of condition before. It was terrible. He was completely shocked because his brother-in-law Victor Bretal Santos was one of those who died.
"He had him in his arms five minutes before the aircraft arrived but he had to let him go because of muscle cramp in his arm.
"However, he is a miracle himself by surviving so long in the water. We found him, but we couldn't find the rest of the men. It wasn't to be."
