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Police have confirmed that the body recovered from the wreck of the L’Ecume II fishing trawler last week has been formally identified as the boat's missing skipper, Michael Michieli.
The Michieli family have been informed.
In an update released this evening, the police said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the Michieli family, and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time."
Pictured: The body recovered from the wreck of the L’Ecume II fishing trawler last week has been formally identified as Michael Michieli.
The Chief Minister issued a statement this evening following the news of the identification.
Deputy Kristina Moore said: "I have been informed that the body recovered from the wreck of the L'Ecume II has today been confirmed as that of Michael Michieli.
"I send my thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to all the Michieli family, to Michael's many friends, and to everyone in our close-knit fishing community at what is a very difficult time.
"As we continue to grieve for Michael, I hope today's news of Michael's body being recovered will begin to allow some closure for those who are closest to him. As an Island community, and as Michael returns home to Jersey where he can rest in peace, we will all continue to support them in the weeks and months ahead.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the teams involved in the recovery operation who have found Michael and returned him to his family."
Pictured: The Chief Minister thanked the teams involved in the recovery operation.
The L’Ecume II fishing trawler sank on Thursday 8 December following a collision with the Commodore Goodwill freight ship off Jersey’s west coast, triggering an immediate search-and-rescue operation spanning 36 hours.
A follow-on recovery operation using the offshore support vessel MV Freja took place in December.
Two bodies were recovered from the wreck and identified as crewmen Jervis Ramirez Baligat and Larry Simyunn from the Philippines, but the third person on board – skipper Michael ‘Mick’ Michieli – was not found at the time.
In February, it was decided that the vessel should be raised for both "evidential gain and for humanitarian reasons".
The team working on the recovery of the L’Ecume II fishing trawler recovered a body from the wreck on Wednesday 26 April.
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