Lutador New Bedford, MA

Vessel Details

10/10/1997

Early on the morning of October 10, 1997, Joaquim Matos noticed that some wires attached to the Lutador's trawl doors were tangled. The crew untangled the wires, but the starboard-side door got caught on a chain. Mr. Matos placed one foot on the railing of the vessel and one foot on the starboard side door, which was partially submerged. He pounded the chain with a hammer, and the door suddenly dropped. Mr. Matos fell into the water. Crew members threw two life rings into the water, but Mr. Matos did not swim toward them. Mr. Matos disappeared into the water only seven minutes after he fell from the vessel. The Coast Guard and nearby vessels searched for nearly twelve hours after the accident but were unable to find Mr. Matos.

Name Age
Joaquim Matos 25
  • Trade Indicator: Fishery dragger
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  • Owner: Jose Silva Silva Fishing Corp. New Bedford, MA
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  • Service: Commercial fishing
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  • Length (ft): 92 ft.
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Month of April

Vessel Year
Ranger 1912
Four Sisters 1950
William Landry 1950
Mino 1969
Commonwealth 1984
Paul and Michelle 1986
Jacqueline W 1987
Liberty 1996
Sea Watch 2014

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