Rescue team told 'come back later'

Published on Monday 5 July 2010 19:44

A COASTGUARD team arrived at a boating tragedy - where four fishermen were missing - to be told by the fire officer in charge at the scene to "come back later".

Iain MacKinnon, 50, Station Officer in charge of Oban Coastguard volunteer team, told an inquiry yesterday of his shock at finding the Fire Brigade in charge of the incident at Loch Awe. He said inland water rescues were normally coordinated and led by the police.

Glasgow men Craig Currie, 30; Thomas Douglas, 36; William Carty, 47; and Stephen Carty, 42 died after their boat capsized in March 2009.

Mr MacKinnon told a fatal accident inquiry that there were still cries coming from the loch when he arrived with his team.

He could not locate any police officers when he first arrived, adding: "I asked to speak to the senior fire officer on the scene."

Asked by procurator-fiscal Craig Harris what information he was given by the fire officer, Mr MacKinnon, said: "I didn't get any information at all. He told me he was too busy to speak to me at the moment - come back later."

Mr MacKinnon, who has 24 years' experience, said he had "never experienced" such a response on arrival at an incident.