Bodies located full seven days after tragedy off coast of Marinha Grande
The bodies of all three crew members missing after the Virgem Dolorosa ‘turned turtle’ just over a week ago off the coast of Marinha Grande have been located today, inside the boat that has been bobbing upside down on the surface of the water since the tragedy.
The possibility that some if not all the men could have been trapped inside the boat was always ‘there’, but conditions were such that it was deemed too dangerous even for forensic divers to venture inside the vessel.
Today, as efforts are understood to have been underway to refloat the vessel and tow it into port, the discovery was made.
Marinha Grande’s mayor Aurélio Ferreira gave the first announcement (that two bodies had been found), but spared further details.
A few hours later came the announcement that a third body, also inside the boat, had been discovered.
This means that the bodies of all six crewmembers who died in this tragedy have now been recovered. Eleven men survived, one of whom is still believed to be in intensive care in hospital.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
