One of the stars of the TV series Trawlermen was feared dead yesterday after falling overboard into the North Sea.
Kevin West, skipper of the Ryanwood, was reported missing from his vessel on Sunday afternoon approximately 15 miles north-east of the Fraserburgh coast.
The frantic crew raised the alarm shortly after 3pm when they realised their captain had not been seen on board for about an hour.
The crewmen then desperately doubled back in a bid to find the missing skipper while search teams were called to an area where the boat had been fishing.
A rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth and an RNLI all-weather lifeboat were scrambled to the scene at Rattray Head.
The search effort was helped by 17 nearby boats that joined in the rescue operation after a Mayday call was put out by the Ryanwood.
It is thought the missing man was not wearing a life jacket.
Hopes of finding Mr West alive were fading yesterday after Aberdeen Coastguard officially stood down from the search late on Sunday night.
His wife, Arlene, said she was "too upset to speak".
The weather conditions were good, but breezy, at the time of his disappearance.
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Aberdeen Coastguard said the missing father-of-three was unlikely to be found.
She added: "We don't think there is much chance that the man could have survived this length of time in the water."
A spokesman for Grampian Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and the matter was being treated as a missing persons enquiry.
Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "This would appear to be a tragic accident, and my thoughts are with Kevin's family, fellow crew members and friends at this difficult and distressing time.
"It's a reminder of the extreme dangers that our fishermen face day in and day out, and brings home just how unforgiving a place the open sea can be."
Fellow Trawlermen star Jimmy Buchan was shocked by the news.
He said: "I know Kevin personally and a nicer lad you couldn't meet. It beggars belief that things like this can happen, but they do."
A Fraserburgh Fishermen's Mission spokesman said: "The place is in mourning again with the potential loss of another experienced skipper in the town."
Mr West's family were too distraught to comment.
Last August a Filipino crewman, Ronaldo Benitez, 29, was lost overboard from a fishing boat 52 miles east of Wick.
Skipper of the New Dawn, Charles Bruce, entered the water in a vain attempt to rescue the crewman but had to be hauled to safety suffering from hypothermia.
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