Oban Coastguard Rescue Team member, Neil Macauly single-handedly rescued a man drowning in Oban Harbour when he and a taxi-driving colleague heard his cries for help at just after midnight on 13 September 2001 off duty. 

When the cries were heard from this heavily built man, Neil told his colleague to contact the emergency services, whilst he managed to get hold of a rope and negotiate this man onto a local fishing vessel alongside in Oban Harbour.

Meanwhile, Clyde Coastguard tasked the other members of the Oban Coastguard Rescue Team to the scene along with the Oban RNLI lifeboat. When help arrived the man was transferred from the boat by the rescue crews to a waiting ambulance and taken to Lorne Isles Hospital where he was said to be suffering from a slight head injury and mild hypothermia.

Clyde Coastguard Watch Manager, Stuart Atkinson comments: "The quick reactions of Mr. Macauly saved this man's life, he used all his Coastguard training and a good deal of initiative and bravery to effect a successful solo rescue, sure in the knowledge his colleague had called for back up help from the emergency services."

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency retains teams of trained Rescue Teams all around the coast of the UK. These Teams are on call day and night to help during marine and coastal emergencies.