Elephant Sessions band member joins RNLI team who rescued him as a teen
Euan Smillie is currently a trainee at the RNLI Kessock Lifeboat Station
Last updated 27th May 2022
A Black Isle musician is training with the RNLI team who rescued him as a boy.
Euan Smillie, from Kilmuir, was involved in a dramatic rescue when he was 14 after getting into difficulty while kayaking with his dad.
The Elephant Sessions band member was saved by volunteers at the Kessock Lifeboat Station after his kayak was pinned between the legs of the Kessock Bridge.
He says the incident inspired him to join the crew who saved him.
Incident showed how quickly events can change at sea
Euan explains that although this excursion was expected to be nothing out of the ordinary on a fine day, and having enjoyed the route in similar conditions on many occasions, events quickly escalated into a dangerous situation.
He said: "We set off that afternoon exactly the same as we had 100s of times before, but conditions switched quickly and with a few factors which changed everything.
"The running spring tide turned, plus a change in wind direction resulted in really difficult water to navigate.
"This led to some turbulent water rapidly picking up under the Kessock Bridge as we passed under.
"Had we arrived a few minutes earlier or later I think we would have cruised through but we were just there at the wrong moment.
Euan was able to join the RNLI’s pilot “Future Crew” scheme a year or two later and recalls the great satisfaction and pride he felt in training weekly alongside the regular volunteer crew learning the skills to save lives at sea.
After his music training at the University of Highlands and Islands he travelled extensively to pursue his career, and after the formation of Elephant Sessions in 2012 was rarely home for long.
However, the pandemic allowed Euan the opportunity to resume his RNLI training formally and continue on the crew member plan whenever at home from global touring.
He added: "Our rescue seems a long time ago now but it really brings home to me that events can change so quickly at sea and the fact that the Lifeboat can be launched to the aid of the people in distress is amazing.
"I am very proud to be part of this volunteer crew and grateful for the public donations which fund all of our training and kit.
“I have recently been down to the RNLI College in Poole, along with volunteers from Kessock and stations from all around the UK. We completed our Emergency Procedures and Sea Survival course and the experience and facilities were incredible.
"The public donations to appeals like Mayday make it possible for us to be safely equipped to save lives at sea."
"I'm not a headliner when I'm at the station"
Euan's busy preparing for a huge gig this weekend as the Elephant Sessions are headlining The Gathering music festival tomorrow.
He outlines how he's already trying to balance his music life with his volunteer work.
Euan said: "The very first shout-out I had I was only responding as a trainee, but it was after a weekend of gigging.
"I just dumped my bags at the front door and went straight out.
"You never know when it's going to catch you out, but it's great. I wouldn't change it.
"I'm just a trainee at this point and I've got lots to learn.
"There's lots of people I'm answering to, I'm not a headliner when I'm at the station."
If you would like to support your local RNLI Lifesavers they are about to recruit for fundraising crew of all ages and backgrounds. Keep an eye on RNLI Kessock Lifeboat social media pages for more information or message directly with your interest.