Death of 4 Shea Heights fishermen will be further investigated by TSB

A fishing tragedy near St. John's that took the lives of four Shea Heights men will be comprehensively investigated by the Transportation Safety Board, its officials confirm.

The fishermen  — Eugene Walsh, his son Keith Walsh, grandson Keith Walsh Jr. and family friend Bill Humby — were aboard a 6-metre open boat when it sank off Cape Spear on September 6.

• 3 generations of 1 family involved in Cape Spear fishing tragedy
• Better to know what happened, says skipper who helped find Shea Heights fishermen
• No apparent damage to fishing boat that sank near Cape Spear, TSB says

Two bodies and the boat were recovered, but the bodies of the two other men have not been found.

TSB investigators visited St. John's shortly after the sinking for a preliminary investigation to determine if a deeper investigation was needed. 

TSB officials now say it has decided to pursue a class 3 investigation into the incident. The board uses the following criteria to determine if a class 3 or an individual occurrence investigation is warranted:

• significant public expectation that the TSB should independently make findings as to cause(s) and contributing factors; or
• potential for better understanding the latent unsafe conditions contributing to a significant safety issue; or
• a government representative so requests; or
• the board must do so to meet its obligations or commitments. 

The Transportation Safety Board says it will post more information on its website about its investigation when it's available.