The family of young father Micah Battersbee was coming to terms with their loss last night after being informed that there was no chance of him being found alive.

Throughout yesterday, the family of the 29-year-old fisherman had gathered at his aunt's house in Bailey's Bay to pray together for his safe return after learning that the fishing boat he was on, New Nuts, had been reported missing.

Last night the family said they did not wish to comment after being told by Harbour Radio that the search for him and fellow crewman Alan Edness had been called off and would not be resuming today.

However, earlier yesterday they explained how Mr. Battersbee was an experienced fisherman who loved the water and life at sea.

Mr. Battersbee, who was the father of a five-year-old son, Machi, was believed to be below deck on board the New Nuts when it capsized on Tuesday night about 80 miles off the north-east coast of Bermuda.

His aunt, Caroline Burgess, spoke yesterday while the search was still on-going. She said: "He is an experienced fisherman. He has been fishing as long as I have known him. He loves the water and he loves the ocean. He is a strong swimmer.

"They are all very experienced fishermen and they would have done the right thing. Micah has been around the water long enough to know what he should do in situations. It just concerns us, with the bad weather last night."

Ms Burgess said her nephew had his own boat, but on this occasion, he had gone out on board his friend Bobby Lambe Jr.'s boat in search of the abandoned yacht Altair.

"A lot of people know him. He was raised in Hamilton Parish and then went to live with his mother in Warwick, and now lives in Devonshire, so he knows a great number of people," she added.

"He does go out, but he is a quiet person. He does not hang in clubs and things like that. He is sociable and very conscientious. He knows that to get anything in life means hard work.

"He is always working and is always able to meet his commitments and he simply concentrates on making a better life for him and his son."

Mr. Battersbee's father, Owen Enos, who is the brother of Ms Burgess, was on his way home to Bermuda from a trip to Florida when the family were informed of the search and rescue mission. He arrived back yesterday afternoon.

He, and Mr. Battersbee's mother, Romelle Battersbee, and his sister Malika Battersbee, were supported by close family and friends yesterday as they hoped that all three of the fishing vessel's crew would be found safe and well. However, it was not to be.

Ms Burgess said her nephew was a full-time father to his son and regularly took him along fishing and boating with him.

And she told how, ironically, his great grandfather Augustus Philpott, who had also been a keen fisherman, had, too, died at sea in 1926.

She added: "My grandfather, his great grandfather, ironically, was also lost at sea. He was lost while fishing, as well."