A Stornoway coastguard helicopter crew has been given the Bristow Operational Excellence Award in recognition of their professionalism in a dramatic rescue at sea.
Five fishermen were airlifted off a sinking trawler some 48 miles north of the Butt of Lewis in January.
The skipper of the 23 metre long trawler radioed for help during very rough seas with southerly force 6 winds.
Stornoway coastguard rescue helicopter flew to the scene and dropped a salvage pump onto the Iuda Naofa to try and control the water coming inboard.
However, the vessel became swamped the helicopter crew were in a race against time to save the fishermen.
As the winchman was lowered to the deck the vessel capsized leaving him and the vessel’s crew in the water, and one of the fishermen very close to the vessel’s still turning propeller.
Quick action by the crew identified the two fishermen in the water without life jackets first before recovering a third man.
Accolade for helicopter crew's daring rescue
12 October 2015