Four people rescued from capsized boat during busy weekend for Coastguard

Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 6th Sep 2020
Last updated 6th Sep 2020

It's been a busy weekend on Scotland's waterways.

Four people were rescued from a capsized boat on Loch Long, in Argyll and Bute, this evening (Sunday).

A Coastguard helicopter and lifeboat raced to the scene after the alarm was raised around 6.40pm.

It's understood at least one person on board the submerged rib has been taken to hospital for treatment.

A spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard received a 999 call reporting people in the water at Loch Long after a tender had capsized on approach to a larger boat.

"Belfast Coastguard Operations Centre sent Helensburgh Coastguard Rescue Team and Helensburgh RNLI lifeboat and the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Prestwick.

"A Police boat also attended and Scottish Ambulance Service. Four people were recovered from the water by the lifeboat and the Police Boat.

"Three of the casualties were taken by Helensburgh lifeboat to Gourock where they were met by Greenock Coastguard Rescue Team and assessed by Scottish Ambulance and did not require further treatment.

"A fourth casualty was airlifted from the Police boat and transferred to hospital by the Coastguard rescue helicopter. All four were wearing lifejackets when they went into the water."

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Borders, three divers had to be rescued after getting into difficulty near Eyemouth.

Coastguards were alerted shortly after 2pm this afternoon and crews from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution were paged to attend.

The divers were found clinging to a lobster pot buoy around the Greenends Gully area, with one being treated by paramedics at the scene.

Eyemouth RNLI crew member Adam Ferguson said: “Eyemouth RNLI were paged at 2.16pm by the UK Coastguard to reports of three divers in difficulty south of Eyemouth in the Greenends Gulley area.

“Arriving immediately on scene the inshore lifeboat crew rescued two divers from the sea and transferred them to the all-weather lifeboat.

“One diver received casualty care from the lifeboat crew onboard the all-weather lifeboat.

“The remaining diver was also rescued by the inshore lifeboat crew and all three were taken back to Eyemouth where one diver was transferred into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service."

Back in the west tonight, Glasgow Bridge has also been sealed off by police.

More to follow...

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