Fishermen died from drowning

Two friends who went missing during a fishing trip on the north-west coast died from saltwater drowning.

A massive rescue operation was launched last weekend after 66-year-olds Stewart Curphey, from Andreas, and Harold Faragher, from Bride, failed to return home.

Their upturned boat was found last Saturday with the men’s bodies recovered later that day – Mr Curphey’s by sea king helicopter and Mr Faragher’s by the lifeboat.

An inquest into their deaths opened yesterday with Coroner John Needham saying a firm date of death could not be ascertained but the men died on either Friday, July 26th or Saturday, July 27th.

The Coroner released both bodies to the families and the inquest was adjourned to a later date.