One dead following vessel transfer mishap off IJmuiden, Netherlands

One person is confirmed dead as a result of an accident that occurred during a vessel transfer off the Dutch port city of IJmuiden on Thursday, March 30, the Royal Dutch Rescue Society (Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij; KNRM) said in a statement.

The accident occurred when the unnamed 40-year-old male victim became trapped between a pilot boat and the cargo vessel to which he was transferring at around 21:45 local time on Thursday.

The KNRM said the pilot boat crew recovered the individual and immediately returned him to shore to be treated by responding emergency medical personnel. Tragically, however, the victim later succumbed to his injuries.

Dutch police, safety, and labour officials have since begun investigating the events that led to the mishap.

A local prosecutor told reporters that the captains of the pilot boat and the cargo vessel have both been named as suspects.