MORE than £100,000 has now been raised to support the family of two Filipino crew who died alongside local fisherman Michael Michieli after a trawler sank following a collision with a freight ship earlier this month.
Mr Michieli’s daughter Rebecca started the Justgiving page with the hope of raising £3,000 for the relatives of Larry Simyunn and Jervis Baligat, who were on board the 18-metre L’Ecume II with Mr Michieli when it collided with Condor’s Commodore Goodwill off the west coast.
However, donations have far surpassed the original target and by yesterday the initiative had raised £100,790.
Two bodies were recovered from the wreck of the L’Ecume II last week and brought to shore by support vessel Freja. They had not been publicly identified by yesterday afternoon.
The search mission at the wreck continued over the weekend and a Ports of Jersey spokesperson said that it was planned that Freja would have surveyed all areas of L’Ecume II.
Freja has removed areas of the deck and the aluminium accommodation structure from L’Ecume II’s wooden hull, which has allowed an extensive search below decks. Work to access and search the last remaining areas of the boat has now begun, Ports of Jersey said.
Responding to the number of donations, Ms Michieli said: ‘We are utterly gobsmacked by the response so far and would like to thank everyone that has donated. Although our original target has been far exceeded we are still asking for people to donate as much or as little as they can. The more we can raise the more relief we can give to their families at such a heartbreaking time. We don’t want money to be something they have to be concerned about.’
In a tribute to Mr Simyunn last week, his aunt Gigi Skye described him as the family’s ‘breadwinner’ and a ‘hard-working hero’.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing having been commissioned by Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel.
In a statement, Ports of Jersey said: ‘Maritime Standards, part of Ports of Jersey, are leading the investigation with support from the States police. Ports of Jersey can also call on external organisations, including the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch, if extra technical expertise is required.
‘A parallel safety-focused investigation is being run by the flag state for the Commodore Goodwill, which is the Bahamas Maritime Authority, in collaboration with Jersey, as the coastal state party.’
Ports also confirmed that Stanley Richard-dit-Leschery is the senior investigating officer in the case. Captain Richard-ditLeschery worked for Condor for a number of years before moving to work for Ports of Jersey.
Islanders also have until 23 December to donate to the Bailiff’s Island appeal which is raising money for those directly affected by both the fishing incident and the Pier Road explosion, which claimed nine lives.
Bailiff’s appeal
– Donations to the Bailiff’s Island Appeal can be made by bank transfer using the reference ‘Island Appeal’.
Bank: HSBC
Sort Code: 40-25-34
Account number: 91663933
IBAN: GB80MIDL40253491663933
An online payment form is due to become available shortly, while those who do not have access to online banking can make donations in person at Customer and Local Services in La Motte Street.
