Four crew lifted off as fishing boat is lashed by gales

Published on Saturday 5 January 2008 00:05

A MAJOR rescue mission was launched last night after a fishing vessel started taking on water in gale-force conditions.

Lifeboats were launched from Islay and Barra and a Royal Navy rescue helicopter was dispatched from Prestwick after the crabber's seven-man crew sent out a mayday message at 8:10pm.

Despite 10ft waves and force-seven winds, a water pump was airlifted on to the UK-registered vessel, which was south-west of Tiree. Four of the crew were taken off.

A spokesman for Clyde Coastguard said attempts would be made to bail out enough water to allow the boat to be towed back to shore.

Meanwhile, three offshore workers were airlifted to hospital yesterday after a freak wave hit their ship.

They were securing cargo on the support vessel Bleo Holm when the incident occurred 50 miles north-east of Aberdeen.

The three were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by air ambulance but the extent of their injuries was not clear last night.

The vessel, owned by Talisman Energy (UK), had a crew of 70.

In January last year the firm admitted its safety procedures needed to be improved following the death of an employee on the same vessel. Matthew Grey, 59, of Darlington, suffered fatal injuries while fitting pipes in one of the cargo tanks.