A referential image of the Mowi Chile salmon farm. Photo: Mowi Chile.

Worker dies in suspected suicide on journey to Mowi Chile farm

A man working for remotely operated vehicle contractor Oceanrov died when he jumped into the sea from a boat while he was on his way to provide services to a Mowi Chile salmon farm in what is believed to be a suicide.

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Mowi Chile told Fish Farming Expert’s Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl, that the tragedy occurred on the morning of Monday, July 20, in the vicinity of Alao Island, in the commune of Quinchao.

“According to witnesses and preliminary information from the authorities, the Oceanrov worker took his own life,” said Mowi.

Personnel from one of the farms near the scene - Isla Alao Sur – “were alerted to the unfortunate situation, immediately contacting the Maritime Authority, which was present to take over the rigorous procedures”.

Body recovered

Mowi Chile announced “its deepest regret for this sad event” and expressed its condolences to the man’s family and team of the Oceanrov company.  

First Lieutenant Daniel Ramírez, spokesperson for the Castro Maritime Government, told Salmonexpert that “we received a phone call from the Captaincy of Puerto de Achao from Mowi Chile, reporting that a worker had seen the person committing suicide, at a time when he was going to jump into the sea. Subsequently, the Maritime Police reported to the prosecutor on duty in Castro, and went to the scene”.

An underwater robot “recovered the lifeless body of the person - a young man of approximately 30 years - at a depth of 19 metres”, said Ramírez.