Family resigned to fisherman's fate

Kevin Cosgrove
Kevin Cosgrove
The family of missing fisherman Kevin Cosgrove have accepted it is unlikely his body will be recovered from his sunken vessel Governor.

Cousin, and spokeswoman for the Cosgrove family in Bluff and Invercargill, Cathy Culling said she and Mr Cosgrove's parents, Jim and Mona, knew that when he was not found within 24 hours, they would not see him again.

"Jim's quite resigned to the fact they won't retrieve him; we won't get him back."

The vessel ran into trouble in Fiordland on September 15 and its wreckage was discovered last week 2.5km off Yates Point.

Mr Cosgrove (60), of Dobson, and his crewman, Nirvana Reynolds (16), of Blackball, who was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School in Oamaru, have not been found.

Mrs Cosgrove had always been terrified of the dangers of her son's occupation, worrying every time a boat went down in Fiordland, Mrs Culling said.

"This has been hard on her."

Mr Cosgrove's son and daughter, Wade and Hayley, had been in close contact with their grandparents since the tragedy.

Mr Cosgrove retired from fishing two years ago to manage a pub in Dobson on the West Coast, but his passion for the sea brought him back to skipper Governor for the past six months.

"He's always gone back to the sea. He has always had something about boats.

"He was a confident seaman.

"The sea takes but it doesn't give."

The weather has hindered the search dramatically. The police dive squad has been unable to reach the wreckage with sonar equipment that would determine if the men's bodies were still on the boat.

Mrs Culling said the family accepted the weather had played a leading role and understood the search and rescue team's inability to locate the pair.

"You can't do the impossible."

The police dive squad visited the site of the wreckage on Thursday and gained footage using a remotely operated vehicle.

However, strong underwater currents meant the squad was able to get closer shots of only one side of the boat, which was upright and intact on the sea floor.

Police will consult the navy's dive team to ascertain its availability and the viability of using its resources to reach the boat.

Mrs Culling said the family would hold a memorial service for Mr Cosgrove soon.

 

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