The St Catherine inshore lifeboat Eric Rowse helped in the search

A MAN is missing presumed dead but three others were saved by rescue services after their small boat got into difficulties in heavy seas at the weekend.

The 57-year-old Frenchman has yet to be found after he fell into the water on Saturday. The others were finally spotted shortly before 10 am yesterday and were taken to St Peter Port by the lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey.

The seven-metre rigid inflatable boat was reported missing on Saturday night off the Roches Douvres. The party left Paimpol on the north coast of Brittany on Saturday morning in the RIB saying that they were heading out on a fishing trip. They told friends that they would be back in Paimpol by 11 pm at the latest.

When they failed to return, the rescue services were alerted as wave heights were over four metres and winds were blowing at Force 5.

Both the St Helier lifeboat Alexander Coutanche and the St Catherine inshore lifeboat Eric Rowse were called out to help in the search, which was co-ordinated by French authorities at Cross Corsen.