The crew of the fishing vessel Hear No Evil, homeported in New Bedford, Massachusetts, recovered the body and positively identified the missing crewman.
Initially, at about 8:30 p.m., Sunday, the crew of the Hear No Evil notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England via VHF radio channel 16 that the 54-year-old man fell overboard.
It was reported he was not wearing a life jacket.
Crews from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Coast Guard Cutter Hammerhead, and Coast Guard Station Brant Point searched by air and sea into the night along with crews from the Hear No Evil and other nearby vessels until the body was discovered by the Air Station Cape Cod helicopter crew.
Once recovered, the body was transferred to the Hammerhead and taken ashore to Sector Southeastern New England in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
“Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time,” said Cmdr. Richard Schultz, deputy commander of Sector Southeastern New England. “The sea is an unforgiving work environment, and when we lose a fellow mariner, it ripples through the entire maritime community.”