Humber pilot was 'universally loved' says family

The nephew of a ship's pilot paid tribute to his "universally loved" uncle who died while attempting to board a ship in the Humber Estuary.

Francesco Galia probably suffered a "cardiac event" which caused him to let go of a ladder and fall into the water, according to a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

The family of the 67-year-old said he had spent his entire adult life at sea and had previously worked as a ship's captain.

"It's no exaggeration to say he sailed the entire planet," his nephew Cary Galia said.

"He spoke multiple languages and travelled inland when off ship - everywhere from the Arctic to the Central Congo, Japanese Islands throughout the Pacific.

"Literally everywhere, his stories were amazing.

"A man that, if he didn't exist, he would need to be invented."

The report said Galia was in the sea for 40 minutes during the incident on 8 January 2023 before being rescued by an RNLI lifeboat, as the overboard recovery platform could not be deployed, which "significantly reduced his chance of survival."

Galia said his uncle was one of a long line of seafarers in the family, from the Italian port city of Genoa.

He said his uncle came to work in the UK after "he fell in love with the idea and beautiful culture of the British Isles, inspiring him to make a home and a family here."

"He was loud but gentle, grand but humble, ridiculous but inspiring and beloved by any and all that encountered him."

Galia added his uncle was "universally loved, globally mourned, forever remembered."

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