A Cornish taxi driver whose video tribute after the Brixham fishing disaster went viral has now joined with a Falmouth singer to record a charity single.

Will Keating and Danny Smith are now set to release a song to raise money for the families of the crew of the stricken Brixham trawler Joanna C BM265, which sank off the Sussex coast on November 21.

One crew member, Adam Harper, is confirmed to have lost his life, with a second, Robert Morley, still missing, while the skipper, Dave Bickerstaff, miraculously survived.

Shortly after the tragedy Danny Smith, a taxi driver from Liskeard, shared a selfie video of himself singing the Garth Brooks song “The River” after he heard the terrible news. Danny posted it as a tribute, having no idea that the video would go viral.

After seeing this, Stuart Mann, who runs Falmouth-based business Evotek Marine, contacted folk singer Will Keating who lives in the town and had taken part in a livestream tribute to the lives lost at sea.

This took place on the Facebook page Voices of the Borough, which was set up to stream from Cornwall every Thursday to lift spirits during the pandemic, and has since been used for other charity events.

Stuart wondered about the possibility of recording the song and releasing it to raise money for the Fishermen’s Mission in Brixham - something that Will was keen to get onboard with.

Within a week more businesses from the marine sector across Britain has signed up to the project, including John Clark Fishing, A Passion for Seafood, and the Cornish Crab Co.

Will then commissioned Cube Recording Studios in Cornwall, who produced the backing track a couple of days later.

Danny and Will met for the first time in the studio and recorded Danny’s vocal and some backing vocals. The track was then mixed and mastered ready for release.

Will said: “We have all been touched by the loss of life and the bravery shown by Dave the skipper who managed to survive. Danny’s voice perfectly embodies those feelings, and this track will be a symbol of our continued support to the families that are going through hell at the moment.”

The single, called “The River,” is being released on Saturday at 6.14pm, to coincide with a two-minute candle lighting vigil exactly two weeks after the tragedy. The timing is relevant as this was the time that the Joanna C went down.

All proceeds from the downloaded single will go to the Fishermen’s Mission, who provide a lifeline of welfare and support to fishermen and their families. Visit the charity's online shop to download a copy from Saturday, December 5 via www.fishmishmarket.org.uk/shop