Rescuer for exploded oil tanker off UK coast speaks out after search is called off with one crew member still missing

A rescuer has described the 'scary' scenes he witnessed in the North Sea yesterday after an oil tanker exploded.

Smoke is still billowing from the US-flagged Stena Immaculate after flames tore through the vessel following a collision with the Portuguese container ship Solong on 10 March.

Both ships were ablaze after the incident at around 9.48am on Monday morning, just off the coast of the UK and a little to the east of Hull in East Yorkshire. And according to a man who was part of the frantic rescue operation, it's a 'miracle' that anyone survived.

The trawlerman, who was onboard one of the dozens of small boats which rushed to the scene, explained he was 'two miles away' when the mayday call came in.

The bloke, who wished to remain anonymous, has told of his horror as he approached the fireball in the North Sea.

The rescuer described the 'scary' scenes he witnessed in the North Sea yesterday (PA)

"When we approached, it was very scary," he told The Sun. "We could see the plumes of smoke. There was a really strong smell of fuel burning.

"We were told there was a person missing at sea and to begin a search. Crew began abandoning both ships around 30 minutes later. It's a miracle they didn’t all die. The fog was pretty horrendous."

The coastguard has confirmed 36 people have been brought ashore, while one was taken to hospital - but the search has now been called off, despite one crew member still being missing.

Solong's owner Ernst Russ said that only 13 people on his team had been accounted for last night.

Matthew Atkinson, divisional commander for HM Coastguard, also added: "After an extensive search for the missing crew member, sadly they have not been found and the search has ended.

"The two vessels remain on fire and coastguard aircraft are monitoring the situation."

The search has now been called off, despite a member of Solong's crew still being missing (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

According to the BBC, the Stena Immaculate - which was hit by the ship while at anchor - was carrying cargo and fuel for the US Department of Defense.

And Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a report from maritime data provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence suggests.

Maritime firm Crowley, which manages the oil tanker Stena Immaculate, said that the explosion was caused by an 'allision' which ruptured a cargo tank containing jet fuel which resulted in a fire.

'Allision' refers to a maritime accident where a ship hits a stationary object, whereas a 'collision' is two moving objects hitting each other. The tanker had appeared to be stationary and anchored at the time of the disaster.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised emergency workers for their 'rapid response' in a statement shared yesterday, saying: "We’re obviously monitoring the situation, we’ll continue to co-ordinate the response and we’re grateful to emergency personnel for their continued efforts."