Maritime News

Fisherman Dies after Slipping on Icy Ramp

Posted on Feb 01, 2011

A Massachusetts fisherman has died after falling into frigid waters. He has been identified as Giuseppi “Joe” Cracchiola of Gloucester.
The 47-year-old man was a crew member aboard the fishing vessel, Sunlight. The ship was docked at New Bedford Harbor for repairs. The man was one of two crewmembers who were staying with the ship while it was repaired.

The slip and fall accident is believed to have occurred early on the morning of Friday, January 28. On Thursday, the crewmembers went out for the evening. The first crew man returned after several hours and boarded the ship. The second crewman came back at about 1:00 a.m. He slipped on the narrow, icy walkway and fell into the water. A surveillance camera showed the man falling about 15 to twenty feet under water. The man was unable to swim back to the boat.

The fisherman was found by a fellow crew member at about 7:30 a.m. on Friday. The body was recovered less than 30 feet from a ladder. Both snowy, icy weather conditions and the narrow walkway are being blamed for the maritime accident. An autopsy will be performed to discover the cause of death.

In January 2008, two men drowned after falling into the harbor while trying to board a scalloper.