Fisherman 'could have been saved'

A verdict of accidental drowning was recorded as the cause of death of 66-year-old Edward Charles Blanchet.

The hearing was told that Mr Blanchet’s 16-foot open fishing boat probably tipped over when lobster pot ropes snagged on a winch in heavy seas on Tuesday 22 September.

Mr Blanchet, who was described as being ‘part of the fabric’ of Grève de Lecq, had fished the waters there for 50 years. The inquest heard that he was not wearing a lifejacket when he went in to the water and was wearing oilskins and waders.