A Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guardsman is missing after a vessel of interest sank while being boarded on Thursday.
The foreign vessel was intercepted by a Coast Guard patrol boat, and three foreign nationals were removed, the TTCG said.
Two Coast Guard members remained onboard. One attempted to check for other persons but became trapped when the vessel suddenly submerged due to rough seas.
"One of the Coast Guard sailors attempted to determine if there were any other persons onboard; however, the rough seas caused the vessel to submerge suddenly. The sailor who had remained above deck was thrown into the water, while the other became trapped inside as the vessel sank from sight," the official statement read.
The second sailor was thrown into the water and was quickly rescued.
Efforts to secure the sinking vessel failed. Search operations are ongoing for the missing sailor.
