Deckie ill before vanishing
A ONE-LEGGED Innisfail deckhand who went missing off a fishing boat south of Cairns two years ago suffered a fit the night before he disappeared, a long-time mate has told the Innisfail Coroner's Court.
Innisfail skipper Brendan Eggins told the inquest into the death of his friend, Peter Trcka, 53, that his mate had a "bit of a turn" and needed to be helped to the cabin but recovered well and chose not to go home.
The inquest heard Mr Trcka went missing off Innisfail commercial line-fishing boat The Shannondale in March 2006 after it had moored overnight at Otter Reef, a popular fishing spot off Tully Heads, south of Cairns, which is renowned for sharks.
His artificial leg was found days later near Russell Island, off Deeral.
Deckhand Marc Luck said he raised the alarm when he saw a bucket with a squid in it but no squid jig or handline on the rear deck. He said he spoke to Mr Trcka hours earlier, at about 4.30am, after finding him watching television in the wheelhouse.
He watched the deckie and cook's eyes "light up" at the mention of squid having been spotted.
Mr Eggins and his two other deckhands described their workmate as an experienced fisherman and a long-time friend who was perfectly capable, despite his artificial leg.
"He could swim better than I could, he was a surfer half his life and could still surf with one leg," Mr Eggins said. "He could do anything anyone else could."
But the inquest heard Mr Trcka had twice before suffered "turns" on other commercial fishing boats and had once needed to be airlifted to shore. The inquest was told the sea was flat the night he disappeared.
But the former trawler's rear guardrail was only knee-high, in keeping with regulations for boats built before 1983.
Magistrate Janelle Brassington adjourned the inquest saying Workplace Health and Safety needed to make a submission, following Maritime Health and Safety barrister Greg Egan's assertion that his department was not responsible for monitoring "whether a workplace was satisfactory for the job being performed on a particular vessel".
Investigator Sen-Sgt Peter Williamson told the inquest fishermen should carry personal emergency position-indicating radio beacons.
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Evidence: Innisfail skipper Brendan Eggins told the inquest into the death of his friend, Peter Trcka, 53, that his mate had a "bit of a turn" and needed to be helped to the cabin but recovered well and chose not to go home.
Missing: Peter Trcka, 53, went missing two years ago.
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