Fatal accident inquiry into fisherman’s death 5/6/14

An fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the death of a Western Isles fisherman who died after a creel boat sank off Harris.

Norman “Teddy” Macleod of Vatisker Park, Lewis, died when the MFV Achieve foundered some six miles north west off Tarnasay off Harris in February last year.

The rescue was delayed after a Mayday radio call failed to give the position of the emergency, found a previous investigation report.

The 45-year-old was in the water for about 20 minutes after jumping off the vessel. He was airlifted by Stornoway rescue helicopter which was urgently searching the entire coast south of Stornoway to the Sound of Harris.

A probe by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) reported Mr Macleod was conscious, although shivering violently, when rushed by the helicopter to the Stornoway hospital.

He had a body temperature of 26.7ºC - ten degrees below the normal level - and suffered a heart attack in hospital that night.

Now a separate accident inquiry which will examine circumstances of the tragedy beyond the maritime remit of the MAIB and take evidence from a range of witnesses will be held in front of sheriff David Sutherland in Stornoway Sheriff Court on 8 October.

► Mayday call confusion led to rescue delay