FIVE men have died in the Atlantic Ocean after a ‘catastrophic’ incident on a fishing vessel.

An inquest was opened at Oxford’s Coroners Court on Monday (August 12) into the death of five men in Atlantic Ocean on July 23 this year.

Cesar Duran, 55, a fishing master, Cesar Aspajo, 51, a deckhand, Geraldo Aspajo, 48, a second factory bosun, Santiago Amoedo, 39, a cook, and Luis Calle, 33, a deckhand, were aboard the fishing vessel Argos Georgia. The men were from Spain and Peru.

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The vessel set sail from Stanley, Falkland Islands on July 21. However, at 1.29pm the following day, the boat suffered a ‘catastrophic incident’ approximately 200 miles off the Falkland Islands coast.

It was heard that the ship was ‘abandoned’ at approximately at 4.23pm.

On Tuesday, July 23, at about 7.30pm, the bodies of the men were recovered from the water.

The causes of their deaths remains an investigation, following a post-mortem examination. Further details are unknown.

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Their bodies were identified to the HM Senior Coroners for Falkland Islands & Oxfordshire at an ID Commission held on  August 7.

Area coroner Nicholas Graham has not yet set a date for a full inquest to take place. It will be confirmed at a later date.

It is unknown why the case is being heard at an Oxfordshire court