'I thought of my children as my boat sank'

Micheal Scrimshaw says he is struggling to sleep after the accident

A fisherman who ended up in the sea after his boat sank off Sark has said he is lucky to be alive.

Michael Scrimshaw, skipper of the Wild Waves fishing boat, said crab pots snagged in a sandbank off the island's west coast, causing the vessel to capsize on 30 September.

"All I could think of at the time was my son, my daughter and my business going," he said.

An investigation into the sinking by the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents was ongoing.

Recalling the sinking, Mr Scrimshaw said the boat was underwater before he had time to rectify what had gone wrong.

"The water was coming over the gunnel so fast. It wasn't coming back, it was gone," he said.

"It's just very sad and very quick. I'm just glad to be here.

"I'm still very drained, I'm struggling to sleep, but the support and messages is keeping me going."

In the aftermath of the sinking, a fundraiser to help with the costs of repairing the vessel has raised more than £14,000.

Mr Scrimshaw said he was overwhelmed by the support.

"I can't thank the island enough for really trying to help me get my boat up and going or what choice I make next," he said.

The fishing vessel Wild Wave sank off Sark's west coast

The boat the was salvaged and towed back to Guernsey, where it was lifted out of the water by a crane.

John Paul Fallaize, one of the divers who helped salvage the wreck off Sark, said the rescue was a "unique experience".

"There is a little bit of an emotional attachment there but you can't really be thinking about that," he said.

"This salvage was unique in the way that you were there pretty quickly, the boat was still partially above the water and the images you got of the boat are just immense."