Fitnes

An investigation has been launched after a crewman of the "Fitnes" was killed in an accident while the bulk carrier was moored on the River Thames. The victim was unloading gravel and ballast when he apparently became trapped in machinery which is used to unload cargo and was dragged to his death at Red Lion Wharf, Northfleet, just after midnight on Oct 4, 2010. Police, ambulance and the Gravesend-based RNLI crew raced to the scene but were unable to save the man. South East Coast Ambulance Service was called to the scene after reports the man was in a cardiac arrest but he was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was recovered several hours later. . The "Fitnes" had been carrying aggregate, gravel and ballast for building work, from Norway. It had been alongside the wharf and unloading for a number of days and is registered to carry cargo of up to 31,000 tonnes.