STORNOWAY BOATING TRAGEDY

Stornoway Coastguard received a call at 6.15 p.m. on 18 December 2001 from a member of the public, who was concerned that a 60 year old local man from Bernera, Isle of Lewis and his collie dog and had not returned from there fishing trip.

Coastguards scrambled Stornoway rescue helicopter 'Mike Uniform' and tasked Coastguard rescue teams from Breasclete, Stornoway and Miavaig as well as launching RNLI Stornoway and two local fishing vessels 'Jacamar' and 'Hinbus' to the scene.

Due to the remote nature of the area further assistance was requested from coastguard rescue teams Ness and Bragar.

Approximately one hour into the search the man's dog was located close to the shore (Bosta Beach). After locating some wreckage it was only a short while before the upturned hull of the 14ft open boat was spotted by searching coastguards.

The man was located on the beach at around 9:40 p.m. and was airlifted to Western Isles hospital in Stornoway, where the duty doctor pronounced the man dead on arrival.

Stornoway Coastguard Watch Officer Duncan McKay said: "The first indication that a tragedy may have occurred was the location of the man's dog. Although the weather has been abnormally calm for December in the Western Isles, working on or around the sea can never be taken for granted. Our sympathy goes out to the man's family and friends especially at this time of year."