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Three rescued after boat capsizes       4/10/14

 

Two children and an adult were rescued when their small boat capsized in East Loch Tarbert in Harris this (Sat) afternoon .

 

The open craft flooded and flipped over just off the Cal Mac ferry pier in Tarbert.

Fortunately the boat - thought to be a sailing dinghy - remained afloat but was drifting with the current.

The three - believed to be local residents - clung onto the upturned hull until help arrived.

A person onshore spotted the incident and raised the alarm by phone.

Stornoway rescue helicopter was tasked almost immediately the 999 call was received by Stornoway coastguards.

Stornoway RNLI lifeboat also launched to the emergency which occurred around 3.30pm today.

A Stornoway Coastguard spokesperson said the rescue helicopter stood by as a local vessel manoeuvred alongside to rescue the casualties who were perched on top of the their semi-submerged upside-down dinghy.

 

He said the two children and the adult were landed ashore at Tarbert where a volunteer coastguard team were waiting.  

 

The casualties were cold and shaken by their ordeal.

They were not injured and did not require medical treatment but headed home to warm up.