One of the two men who was a victim of an industrial accident yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) on the cargo freighter, Palmerton, a few kilometres of the coast of Zeebrugge, passed away as a result of his injuries.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of West Flanders (Bruges section) made this known today (Wednesday).
The second man, who fell into the sea at the time of accident,had still not been found by the end of yesterday afternoon when the search was interrupted. He is still believed to be missing.
A freighter, operating with a Caribbean flag, left the Port of Zeebrugge on Tuesday afternoon headed in the direction of France.
Around 2.35 p.m. one of the lifeboats, upon which some members of the crew were carrying out repairs, fell off.
As it fell, it took a crew member overboard. He is yet to be found despite the deployment in force of the emergency services, collaborating with the maritime police and defence services. The chances of finding him alive are now somewhat slim.
Another crew member, who fell on the deck during the accident, was swiftly admitted to hospital where he died in the meantime. The two victims originally came from the Ukraine.
