Authorities were searching for a man who fell into the sea in waters south of Lamma on Sunday morning after his fishing boat was involved in a collision with an oil tanker.

Police said the crash took place after 5am and initial enquiries showed the man in his 80s, who owns the boat, fell into the sea with six crew members.

The boat sank but all the crew members were rescued.

They suffered scratches to their limbs and were conscious when taken to Queen Mary Hospital.