A YOUNG father from Portland is presumed dead today after falling overboard from a fishing boat.

The man, aged in his early 20s, was believed to be working on the deck of a crabbing vessel when he fell over the side.

Coastguards launched a major search involving two search and rescue helicopters but admitted the survival chances were minimal due to the fact the man wasn't wearing a lifejacket.

The search has now been called off and warning broadcasts have since been made to shipping.

Jim Anderson, Portland Coastguard watch manager, said: "We were in-formed just before 11am on Saturday that a man had gone overboard from a fishing vessel about 20 miles north of Alderney in the middle of the shipping lanes.

"We scrambled the coastguard helicopter from Portland to assist in the search and informed the French Coastguard which was co-ordinating the incident as it took place in the French sector.

"A French helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft from Guernsey were also involved along with a few boats.

"It went on until sunset before a decision was taken to terminate the search."

Mr Anderson added: "We have made broadcasts to shipping for crews to keep a sharp lookout.

"To be realistic though we are now looking for a body due to the time that has lapsed.

"Unfortunately the man wasn't wearing a lifejacket so that would have lessened his survival chances.

"We can't go looking indefinitely, there has to come a time when we say enough is enough because we've done all we can.

"The man's family are obviously very distraught. They accept he's not alive but they want the search to continue to recover the body."

The cause of the accident is now in the hands of the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

Portland Coastguard strongly recommend that persons going to sea wear lifejackets.

A spokesman said fishing vessels must carry lifejackets although the crew are not legally required to wear them.

The spokesman added: "Fishermen tend to remove their lifejackets because of health and safety reasons as they don't want to get tangled in machinery and dragged out to sea.

"If the crew was fishing at the time they may have taken their jackets off."