Hope fades for teenager after boat capsizes on fishing trip

Jake Miller, 18, was with two 17-year-old friends who left Banff about 11pm on Thursday to sail the short distance to Whitehills.

But shortly before 1am yesterday the vessel flooded and turned over.

The three, none of whom was wearing a life jacket, ended up in the water and tried to swim to safety.

Two of them swam to rocks between Banff and Whitehills where one ran to a hotel and raised the alarm.

Both were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia.

An air and sea search was launched but although the boat was found there was no sign of the missing teenager.

Aberdeen Coastguard called out Banff, Gardenstown, Portsoy and Buckie Coastguard rescue teams to begin a sweep of the shoreline and they were joined by Buckie and Macduff RNLI lifeboats and a rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth.

Grampian Police confirmed about 4pm yesterday the rescue operation had been stood down.

A force spokesman said: "It is now almost 15 hours since Mr Miller was reported missing and, unfortunately, the chances of survival in the water for that length of time are sadly very, very slim. The family of Mr Miller have been kept informed of developments throughout the search and my thoughts are with them at this very difficult time."

One of the teenagers at sea with the missing teenager was named locally as Sam Ball of Alvah, near Banff.

Yesterday Mr Miller's distraught father said the family was busy tracking down friends to see if anyone had been in touch with him.

Graham Miller, 54, of Turriff, said: "He went fishing last night on a boat and capsized. He went out on the boat sometimes with friends. We understand he was wearing a very heavy, padded boiler suit. If that was the case it would have dragged him under."

Mr Miller said he did not know who owned the boat the teenager was on. He said his son no longer lived at home and did not go out fishing often.

One of Jake's best friends, Shaun Miller, 18, said he and other friends had gone to one of their favourite spots to console each other and "hope for a miracle".

The group met at Banff Links, where they had camped together on many occasions, to lay flowers for their missing friend.

Shaun added: "He was a big, strong guy. It doesn't seem like the kind of thing that could happen to him.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet for me. I'm still hoping that it's not the worst."

Mr Miller had worked as an apprentice welder at SM Geddes Welding and Fabrication Ltd in Gardenstown, near Banff, for the past six months. He also worked part-time at the Fyffe Lodge Hotel in Banff. Hotel manager Joan Richmond said: "He was friends with all the staff here. We are devastated."