Four rescued as fishing boat capsizes

FOUR fishermen were saved yesterday after their boat started to sink off the north coast of the island of Rum.

The crew of the Caralisa issued a Mayday call at 5:53am when they discovered water in the vessel's hold and engine room.

The Rebecca Janeen fishing boat, which was a mile away, picked up the call and relayed it to Stornoway Coastguard and went to the scene with another vessel, Ocean Hunter.

Mallaig lifeboat was launched and another two fishing boats, Viking Borg and Amethyst, also joined the rescue.

The Ocean Hunter was the first to reach the Caralisa, followed by the Rebecca Janeen. In all, four pumps were put on to the stricken boat and these managed to stop the water level from getting any higher.

However, it took the arrival of extra pumps from Mallaig Lifeboat for the water level to start receding.

The Caralisa was later taken under tow to Mallaig.