The 'Sonja - Z 19', based in Zeebrugge, was thought to have sank within minutes at about 2 p
The 'Sonja - Z 19', based in Zeebrugge, was thought to have sank within minutes at about 2 p.m. on Aug 25 leading to a massive search operation after three survivors were found in life raft by the 'Pacific Princess'. Two other crew members were reported as missing and their bodies were found near the sunken boat in the afternoon of Aug 26 by a Maritime and Coastguard Helicopter. Their bodies were flown to Humberside, where the local police attempted to contact their families. The bodies corresponded with the descriptions of them. No mayday was sent out. The 'Sonja' would have gone down within minutes. The three men in the life raft were rescued by the 'Pacific Princess' at 6.30 p.m., which alerted the authorities that two other fishermen were missing. At 7 p.m. the helicopter from Humberside Coastguard was called out and at 8 p.m. it arrived and discovered the 'Sonja' had sunk with no sign of its two missing. At 8 p.m. Caister and Gorleston lifeboats were called out as part of an extensive search which involved other cruise ships and passing vessels. The weekend search also involved the Lowestoft lifeboat.
