Lifeboat called out to River Dee to find sailing dinghy without anyone in it

Aberdeen’s lifeboats were launched at 11am today (Wednesday 4 November) when HM Coastguard received calls expressing concern about an upturned kayak or dinghy in the River Dee just upstream of the Wellington Suspension Bridge.

RNLI Aberdeen Lifeboat coxswain Davie Orr said: “This area is not easy to access from the shore, so the fastest way to investigate was to send the inshore lifeboat.”

The inshore lifeboat ‘Buoy Woody 85N’ sped to the location with her volunteer crew of three, while the larger all-weather lifeboat ‘Bon Accord’ and her crew of six searched the harbour in case the small craft’s occupants had fallen overboard and been swept downstream.

Arriving on scene, the inshore lifeboat crew found a Topper sailing dinghy in a poor state of repair, without mast, centreboard or rudder. There was no sign that anyone had been with the craft and, indeed, every indication that it might have been abandoned or washed downstream in recent floods.

After a full search to ensure there was no-one in the water, the dinghy was towed to the lifeboat station and handed to HM Coastguard. The lifeboats were washed down, refuelled and readied for service around 1230pm.

Davie Orr continued: “It is important that people phone Coastguard by dialling 999 if they see anything that could indicate someone in trouble in the water – and a boat adrift or upturned would certainly be such an indication.”