Crew member dies after storm hits ‘significantly damaged’ vessel on North Sea as huge waves batter Scottish coastline

A CREW member has died after a vessel in the North Sea was battered by huge waves, as storms and unusually high tides caused significant damage across north and east Scotland.

• A crew member has died after huge waves hit north and east of Scotland

• Body is yet to be recovered due to severe weather

Eleven other crew members were winched to safety from the Vos Sailor, which was stranded 120 miles off Aberdeen and taking on water.

Six other vessels and three helicopters were sent to the scene and non-essential staff have been evacuated from a nearby rig.

The body of the man has not yet been recovered due to severe weather but it is believed he was dead when the rest of the crew were rescued.

A spokesman for Grampian Police said the Vos Sailor had suffered “significant damage”. He added: “It appears at this time that one crew member has suffered fatal injuries.”

Dramatic pictures have captured the moment when part of the harbour wall in Balintore, Ross-shire, collapsed under the repeated force of the waves yesterday.

“I’ve never seen it like this, it’s crazy”, said onlooker Rachael Vass, 19. “It looks like the whole wall’s going to come down.”

Huge waves also caused a section of the sea wall in North Berwick, East Lothian, to collapse and swept a 40ft sea container into the harbour, damaging yachts and fishing boats.

An estimated £500,000 of damage has been caused and last night harbour crews were attempting to save at least one large vessel from being swept away.

Ross Harbison, the North Berwick harbour master, told Scotland on Sunday: “At the moment we’re trying to rescue a large vessel and the harbour is collapsing into the sea as we speak.”

A 15-metre section of the harbour wall collapsed in Lossiemouth in Moray and 25 residents of a sheltered housing complex were evacuated after coastal flooding.