LIFEBOAT crews from Harwich say their thoughts are with the families of fishermen who died after their trawler capsized off the Kent coast.

Harwich RNLI's all weather lifeboat was launched on Wednesday morning to join a search for two missing crew members from a capsized trawler.

One person was winched from the Belgian-flagged vessel onto the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lydd after he was spotted clinging to the upturned hull by a passing vessel.

He was flown to hospital for treatment.

A search by was carried out for the other two crewmen on Wednesday by lifeboats from Harwich and Ramsgate.

Wind farm support vessels, Trinity House vessels Alert and Patricia, and other passing vessels were also involved in the extensive search.

A crew member was recovered by Ramsgate lifeboat but was reported to have died later in hospital. The third crew member remains missing.

The search was stood down when daylight faded.

Harwich lifeboat arrived back at its station shortly before 6pm, nearly nine hours after launching.

Overnight, the Trinity House vessels remained on scene as guard vessels to prevent collision with the upturned vessel.

Harwich coxswain Neal Sandquest said: “Conditions on scene were favourable for searching on Wednesday and there was a significant level of resources involved in the search.

"Thank you to THV Alert for their assistance in covering our allocated search areas.

“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of those on board the trawler.”