AN experienced young fisherman became fatally entangled in ropes when unsafe practices were being carried out onboard a commercial fishing boat, a report has concluded.

Lee Renney was dragged under water while working on the Pauline Mary off the coast of Hartlepool last September.

Today, the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch has issued a damning report about the fatal accident.

The Northern Echo: FATAL: The Pauline Mary fishing boat

BOAT: The Pauline Mary fishing boat

The 22-year-old was working alongside his brother, who was the skipper of the boat, when he was pulled overboard as he was dropping the lobster pots.

Investigators said the brothers – both experienced fishermen from Hartlepool – had only been working on the Pauline Mary for two days and were laying out the pots for the first time from the vessel.

Concerns were raised in the report that the skipper’s seven-year-old son and a female family friend were onboard at the time and investigators believe that could have played a part in the skipper missing his brother going overboard.

However the presence of the family friend proved helpful in maintaining communications with rescuers when the skipper was pulled overboard as he frantically tried to save his brother.

A report into the incident reads: “The skipper immediately put the engine lever to full astern and stopped the vessel. He then selected neutral, grabbed a knife and ran onto the deck, by which time Lee had been dragged over the side and under the water.

“The skipper then engaged the deck hydraulics and used the hauler to heave the back rope in until Lee, who was motionless, returned to the surface with his leg still entangled in the rope. The skipper used the hauler to pull Lee as far out of the water as he could, but Lee’s head and upper torso remained submerged.

“In a frantic attempt to free his brother, the skipper cut the back rope. Lee briefly came upright but his leg remained snagged in the ropes and he was pulled back beneath the surface again.

"Realising what had happened, the skipper jumped into the water and grabbed hold of Lee’s arm. The skipper tried to reach down and cut Lee free but had to let go as they were both dragged deeper beneath the surface.”

The investigation concluded safer pot shooting methods, specifically where the crew and ropes are physically separated, could have been developed and had Lee been carrying a knife, or if one had been readily available on deck, he might have had an opportunity to cut himself free before going overboard.

Following the accident the skipper ceased operating and the owner has disposed of the vessel.