A MOTHER today paid tribute to her 'cheeky chappie' son who is presumed dead after falling overboard from a fishing boat.

Devastated Julie Menzies, 40, said her fisherman son Samuel Shaw McCulloch was everything to her.

Mr McCulloch, 22, who has a two-year-old son, was believed to be working on the deck of the Devon-owned crabbing vessel Etoile des Ondes when he fell over the side.

Coastguards launched a major search after the crew, which included Mr McCulloch's uncle Scott Francis, reported a man overboard 20 miles north of Alderney on Saturday.

Rescuers now admit they are looking for a body and police are treating the incident as a missing person.

Miss Menzies, of Courtlands Road, Portland, said: "Sam had been on the boats for nearly three years and he absolutely loved it.

"I think he really found his trade. He was only on his second tide with this new boat when the accident happened.

"Obviously I am shattered by this because he meant everything to me.

"The worst thing is we can't have a funeral until his body has been found."

Miss Menzies, who is separated from Mr McCulloch's father David, has two daughters, Natasha McCulloch, 20, and Shelby Francis, seven.

She described her son as a "cheekie chappie and a typical lad" who loved his football and his son.

Born in Glasgow, Mr McCulloch, who was an avid Rangers fan, moved with his family to Swindon and then to Portland seven years ago.

He spent eight months in the Army then worked as a window fitter before joining the fishing boat Royal Escape.

Miss Menzies' partner Will Jones, 42, said: "Sam was a great lad who made me feel very welcome in the family home.

"He was a bit of a rogue as all lads are of that age but he was a mate."

Mr McCulloch's former partner Donna Challinor, 20, said he was a brilliant dad to their son Kai.

She said: "Things didn't work out between us but Sam was still a very loving and caring father to Kai.

"He would do anything for him and would always be there for him.

"The heartbreaking thing is Kai is oblivious to it all. He still waves when he sees the fishing boats because he thinks his dad is on there.

"I just don't know how I'm going to tell him."