Fishing crew member found in critical condition near port in Hokkaido

SAPPORO – A second crew member of a four-person fishing boat that sank off Hokkaido was found Saturday and declared dead after being taken to hospital in critical condition, the coast guard said.

Koichi Sawaya, 48, was discovered lying near the water’s edge near a port in Setana, a day after Hiroshi Sawaya, also 48, was discovered during a search along nearby quays and later confirmed dead. The search for the other two crew members continues.

The coast guard has conducted underwater dives near the sunken vessel and offshore searches by patrol boats.

The four crew members left the port about 7:30 a.m. on Thursday for flounder fishing, but blizzard conditions developed before noon, and a family member reported losing contact with the vessel around 1:30 p.m., the authorities said.