Late-night speedboat trip ends in tragedy

Published on Tuesday 19 May 2009 22:07

ONE man died and three were injured when their speedboat crashed in darkness into an island off the Scottish coast.

The men were on a diving holiday in Argyll and had travelled to Mull for an evening out.

As they returned to their base at Lochaline late on Monday night their inflatable boat struck Calve island off Tobermory.

Sea conditions at the time were said to be flat calm and there was light rain.

Clyde Coastguard was initially alerted by members of the public, who heard a loud bang and saw a light flashing, after the speedboat had left Tobermory.

A coastguard spokesman said: "The Coastguard were then alerted by the boat's occupants that the 6.5-metre blue rigid hulled inflatable boat had hit the north end of Calve Island, and that one of the four individuals on board was seriously injured with head injuries. He was not conscious."

He added: "All of the men on board were wearing dry suits, but no life jackets. The vessel was by this time on rocks in Tobermory Bay and had lost all electrics. No other vessel could be seen around them."

A Clyde Coastguard spokeswoman added that the men were all recreational divers, who came to Lochaline twice a year on holiday.

She said that although a Navy helicopter had been called out from Prestwick, all the men had been picked up by lifeboat.

A medical team was at the shore but one of the men, who is believed to have been in his 40s, was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

The three other men, aged 39, 41 and 49, suffered minor injuries and were treated at Dunaros Hospital on Mull and later released.

Calum MacLachlainn, who owns MacGochan's pub in Tobermory, confirmed that the four men had been in there for a meal on Monday night.

Mr MacLachlainn said:

"They were staying at Lochaline but they said they wanted to come and stay in Tobermory, because they enjoyed being here."

He said that when the men, aged between 39 and 49, left the pub, late on Monday evening, they were not drunk, and added: "The staff felt they were quite sensible people. Our thoughts go out to the family."

Strathclyde Police, HM Coastguard, Tobermory RNLI lifeboat and the ambulance service all attended the scene, and police and coastguard were still investigating the cause of the accident.