Memorial unveiled to tragic Hartlepool fisherman

David Stead, from Hartlepool, drowned on a fishing trip where his boat capsized.

A new memorial has been created to remember a former Hartlepool fisherman and two friends who tragically died at sea.

More than 100 people turned out for the unveiling of the memorial of three men who died in a fishing accident at East Wemyss, in the Fife area of Scotland last year.

Hartlepool man David Stead, 47, drowned on a fishing trip after the boat he was in with friends Jason Buchan, 35, and Birrell Stewart, 30, capsized on August 10.

Family, friends and relatives attend the unveiling of a memorial to the three fishermen who were lost in the Firth of Forth.

It happened after Mr Stead had earlier moved to Scotland to live with family in the area.

The memorial was organised by Andrew Cormie, a close friend of all three men, who said the turn out for the unveiling was “fantastic”.

He added: “It was really great to see so many people come along.”

Andrew said he hoped the memorial would help people to move forward from the accident.

The memorial to the three fishermen who were lost in a tragic accident in the Firth of Forth.

“The idea is that it’s somewhere for people to come and reflect on what happened.

“It’s a relief to finally have it put in place. My mind has been taken up with it for so long, I now feel as if a great weight has been lifted.

“It looks fantastic and so many people came up and told me how much they love it, so I’m really happy.”

David, a keen fisherman, was from Hartlepool, where he still has a large extended family including four sisters and a daughter he was devoted to.

He moved to Scotland, where he has relatives, about two years previously and had been living at East Wemyss.

Members of his family travelled from Hartlepool to the scene to lay flowers after the tragedy.