A 55-year-old fisherman is dead after he fell from the crow’s nest aboard a vessel off the coast of southwestern Nova Scotia.
Yarmouth RCMP were alerted to the accident at approximately 5:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Police officers met the fishing vessel as it arrived in East Pubnico around 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Police say Paul Vernon (Brex) Malone was working aboard the Savana & Jax, which was swordfishing south of Cape Sable Island, Tuesday afternoon when he fell from the crow’s nest - a structure with a fixed ladder, or spar, at the centre of the vessel used to spot fish.
A search and rescue helicopter, plane and coast guard ship were dispatched to the scene but the Lower East Pubnico man died from his injuries before they arrived.
RCMP and the Nova Scotia Department of Labour are investigating the incident. No stop-work orders have been issued.
"This morning, someone's family member didn't come home from work. This is a tragedy that is happening too often," said Labour and Advanced Education Minister Frank Corbett in a statement Wednesday.
The province says Malone’s death is the 16th workplace fatality this year. Thirty-two Nova Scotians died on the job in 2012.
Police say foul play is not suspected in Malone’s death.
With files from The Canadian Press
