Oban Lifeboat brings yachtsman to safety before vessel sinks
Oban lifeboat was called this morning to go to the aid of a yacht that was in difficulties on Eilean nan Gamhna off the East coast of Lismore.
As the lifeboat made its way to the scene, CalMac’s Lismore ferry, Loch Striven and the fishing vessel Boy Jamie also responded to the Mayday from the yacht, which was hard aground in a moderate swell with waves breaking into it.
With no response from the single occupant who was in the cabin, it was decided that there was sufficient water depth for the lifeboat to approach the yacht’s stern and for a crew member to go aboard the grounded vessel.
After helping the person on the yacht to pack essentials, a second approach was made to allow the casualty to be taken off onto the lifeboat amidst concerns that the vessel might not remain seaworthy for much longer against the battering of the waves.
The manoeuvre was repeated a third time to get the crew member off.
The lifeboat, The Campbell-Watson, returned to base bringing the casualty, who was uninjured, to safety.
The vessel subsequently sank and mariners in the area are being warned that there is likely to be debris in the water.
Oban lifeboat’s duty coxswain and crew would like to thank the crews of the Loch Striven and Boy Jamie for their assistance.
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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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