Missing sailor is found after major search

A MAN reported missing at sea was found safe in the early hours of yesterday after a major search.

The lone sailor had left Toberonochy on the Isle of Luing on Sunday afternoon, heading for Torsa, 16 miles south of Oban, when his small outboard-propelled dinghy ran out of fuel.

He had been missing for nine hours in his boat, the Lonesome Dove, when Oban RNLI Lifeboat found him after a search lasting more than four hours.

A Clyde Coastguard spokesman said the alarm had been raised by the man’s partner when he had not returned home at the expected time on Sunday.

The spokeswoman added that the man did not have a lifejacket, flares, or radio, so there was no way of getting in touch with him.

The call sparked a major search, including the Stornoway based Coastguard helicopter, Oban Lifeboat, Oban Coastguard Coast Rescue Company and police.