Kochi: The body of the lone Kerala fisherman who was on the ill-fated 'Oceanic' fishing boat that sunk 24 nautical miles off the Chettuva sea mouth near Munambam after a mid-sea accident was recovered Saturday.
The body of Shiju, 42, from Malyankara, was recovered in a fishing net cast from another boat, St Antony. The boat was engaged in fishing activities in the vicinity of the accident.
Fishermen brought the body to the shore at Munamban harbour, where Shiju's paternal uncle and brother-in-law identified the body from marks on his leg.
Shiju's body has been kept at the General Hospital mortuary and will be buried after post-mortem examination Sunday.
The fishing boat, with 14 on board, had sunk last Tuesday after a ship reportedly rammed it at 3.30 am. Eight people remain to be traced.
With Saturday's recovery, a total of five bodies have been recovered from the sea and two fishermen have been rescued.
Vessels of the navy, coast guard and several fishing boats are continuing to search for the missing fishermen, the military spokesperson said.
The boat had a mostly Tamil crew, 11 of them, had two people from West Bengal and one from Kerala.
M V Desashakti owned by the Shipping Corporation of India, suspected to have smashed the boat causing the casualties has been anchored at the Mangaluru port upon the orders of the Indian Navy.
Officials of the Mercantile Marine Department, Coastal Police, Forensic Experts and underwater surveyors are examining the Indian merchant vessel which allegedly hit the boat.
The vessel will remain at Mangaluru till a detailed scientific scrutiny and expert divers from Mumbai or Kochi will be engaged to examine the underwater parts of the ship.
