Canoeists safe after dramatic rescue

Published on Saturday 21 August 2010 19:11

TWO female canoeists were taken to hospital yesterday after a major two-hour search involving a lifeboat, a helicopter, a ferry, coastguard rescue teams and local vessels.

A shopkeeper called Clyde Coastguard at 12.10pm after a pair of Dutch tourists told him they had seen canoeists in difficulty in Salen Bay on the Sound of Mull.

Tobermory Coastguard Rescue Team was sent to the scene, but could not see anyone. Clyde Coastguard then radioed vessels in the area to ask whether there had been any sightings, but none were reported.

The coastguard then made a relay broadcast to ask that vessels in the area assist in the search. Tobermory lifeboat and Rescue 177 Helicopter, which was training nearby, were also brought in. The duo were finally spotted at 2.10pm from Caledonian MacBrayne ferry Clansman. One was in the water and the other in a canoe.

The Dutch tourists had seen a rigid inflatable boat alongside the canoeists, which they presumed was assisting them, but it later emerged its wake may have capsized them.

Dive boat Peregrin picked up the two women and brought them ashore, where they were transferred to Dunaros Hospital and treated for hypothermia. They had been in the water for three hours.

Clyde Coastguard watch manager Calum Murray said: "It transpired that what the first informant had seen was the wake from the RIB as it passed the canoeists pitching them into the water.

"Although the two canoeists were adequately dressed and were wearing buoyancy aids (which ultimately led to the fact they were able to stay afloat for such a sustained period], they did not have communications devices to make a distress call.

"The weather on scene was force 4 to 5, gusting to 6, which is not ideal for open canoes.

"If you are going out on to the water, always check the weather before you set out, and ensure you have appropriate safety equipment should you get into difficulty.

"Finally, if you see someone in difficulty at the coast, always dial 999 and ask for the coastguard."