Sailor's death remains a mystery (From Western Telegraph)

Sailor's death remains a mystery

12:40pm Sunday 23rd September 2012 in News

An open verdict has been recorded at an inquest into the death of a fisherman who was lost overboard as his vessel returned to the Pembrokeshire coast last year.

The body of Latvian Maris Ozolins, aged 28, has never been discovered despite a large scale air and sea search.

Exactly what caused Mr Ozolins, aged 28, to fall overboard is likely to remain a mystery.

But a previous Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) review highlighted the fact he was wearing flip-flops as “increasing the likelihood of a slip or trip”.

Mr Ozolins disappeared from the About Time as it headed towards Milford Haven on June 14th, 2011.

It is thought that he went overboard between 6.39am and 7.31am but his absence was not noticed by fellow crew members until 8.12am.

Mr Ozolins was not wearing a personal flotation device or locator beacon at the time.

Mr Ozolins had worked on the vessel for around two years and was said to be “well rested and not reported to be suffering from any stress or illness at the time of the accident”.

There was no evidence to suggest that he might have been under the influence of drink or drugs.

Pembrokeshire Coroner Mark Layton recorded an open verdict.