Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Saturday, 17th May 2008

Premium Article !

Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.

Options

Premium Article !

To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the Scotland On Sunday site.

Subscribe

Registered Article !

To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.

Sign In
Register

Anglers in fatal sinking on Loch Lomond



Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 28 October 2007
By GARETH ROSE
ONE man died and another was still missing last night after a boat containing five anglers capsized on Loch Lomond.
Three men were eventually pulled out of the water suffering from severe hypothermia near the small island of Inchmurrin shortly before the dead man's body was discovered.

They were taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley for treatment after being found by the Luss rescue boat more than two hours after the emergency services received a 999 call. However, fears were growing last night for the remaining fisherman.

The Clyde Coastguard, Luss rescue boat and police and Royal Navy helicopters were all searching a section of the loch near Ross Park until shortly before midnight, and were due to reconvene this morning.

Gordon Dempster, a porter at the Loch Lomond Golf Club hotel, said: "We've seen helicopters in the air but had not heard any information about what has happened.

"It's fairly windy, I would imagine the water would not be calm or flat. The loch is really, really cold all year round, so at this time of year it would be absolutely freezing."

The search began following an emergency call at 6.20pm, reporting that a 19ft wooden fishing boat with an outboard engine had got into difficulty.

It was believed to contain five members of the Vale of Leven and District Angling Club.

The club was contacted and calls were made to the mobile phones of three of the men, but none answered.

Members of the club, which is based in Balloch, Dunbartonshire, declined to comment last night.

Calum Murray, watch manager at Clyde Coastguard, said: "A search is still ongoing for a missing person in Loch Lomond as we have now rescued three casualties and recovered one body.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of the deceased, and our thoughts are with those recovering in hospital.

"What has happened tonight is a tragedy, and we would always advise that a vessel going out onto the water carries enough lifejackets for all of its crew."

Three people in a second boat also got into difficulty on the loch last night. Their boat sank but they made it to the shore before being found by the coastguard.

The members of the Vale of Leven and District Angling Club are the latest people to get into trouble in the area around Scotland's biggest loch.

In August, Sean McSkimming, 17, from Alexandria, drowned in the River Leven near Loch Lomond after jumping from Balloch Bridge while with friends.

A week earlier, a 36-year-old man who was camping on the shores of Loch Lomond with friends died after he got into difficulties in the loch.

Angus Buchanan, 45, and his 13-year-old daughter Holly, from Glasgow, died when their dinghy lurched suddenly, throwing them into the water in March 2005.

The full article contains 483 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 28 October 2007 12:40 AM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: Accidents at sea
 
1

Proper Job,

28/10/2007 04:00:44

Another horrible, avoidable tragedy. When are we going to learn that life jackets should be automatically worn in all small craft at all times? Go into frigid waters while wrapped up against the chill but without a flotation device, and you'll be very very lucky to give the rescue workers a decent chance of finding you alive.

2

Haleakelaman,

Auld Grey City 28/10/2007 06:05:37

I recently had a holiday and fly fished the Loch a month ago. I was using a hired traditional built clinker boat & small outboard (with lifejacket).These vessels are fine on a calm day, but Scottish weather can pick up a windy squall and on a large body of water like Loch Lomond they are downright dangerous. I'd like to see a review on the type of vessels anglers use as traditional boats just don't seem to be up to the job.

3

Chaplin,

28/10/2007 08:08:08

#1 Proper Job
I agree, more than likely an avoidable tragedy.

4

northbay,

highlands 28/10/2007 08:52:12

I knew Angus Buchanan and Holly so each time a story appears about an accident on Loch Lomond it brings it all back. You always hope people will learn from others tragedies. I feel so sorry for those concerned in this accident.

5

Upbeat,

28/10/2007 08:59:22

A distressing and hugely sad day for the families of those involved.

But we should not be judgemental here from the relative safety and comfort of our homes.

Of course this was avoidable #1 Every risk is avoidable. No one needs to put themselves in harm's way at all. Stay at home pull the covers round your ears and pray that the house does not flood , burn down or blow away.

What we certainly do not need is for any crazy knee jerk reaction by " authority" to "regulate" the activity of pleasure boating, any further.

People die walking across our roads each day ( 3 crossing motorways in the past 3 days ), many more are injured that we never hear of, no doubt.

Hypothermia does not 'respect 'people wearing lifejackets. Water is wet,and cold and going out in a small boat is an adventure, particularly on a day in late autumn.

Yesterday there was a report in this paper about large segments of our society feeling that the world of outdoor pursuits excluded them. This is an indictment on a free society.

The specialist and safety equipment for all pursuits has never been better or more widely available to all. The training and experience courses that people can take are equally available. All new boats have to be certuified as to design capacity etc. The regulation is sufficient.

Accidents in the great outdoors will always happen unfortunately.

Enough said already .

6

Boatman,

Scotland 28/10/2007 10:12:28

I was working on the banks of Loch Lomond yesterday and for most of the day the wind on the loch was 25 knots with gusts over 40 which produced very large waves - extreme weather indeed. Not suitable for most boats.

7

jd87,

alexandria 28/10/2007 11:56:46

How can people comment so easily on events they know little about. The families of these people do not need to hear blame, rather support and sympathy. It is not for us to judge and as we all have the "never happen to me" understanding it is better for people to enjoy what they do even knowing the risks involved. Accidents happen daily in all walks of life do not assume you know details you no nothing off. As of the comments above where any of you there to see what each male was wearing or just taking the arrogant manner of knowing everything without details.

8

Upbeat,

28/10/2007 12:39:13

7 jd87

It would add weight to your intervention if you had indicated whiuch comment(s) above you take exception to .

9

California Scot,

28/10/2007 15:05:28

#7
I believe everyone was commenting on the article as it was written. The fact that there was still a search on for one more individual means he was not wearing a float vest. Those things keep people above the water where the poor fellow would have been seen by searchers.
My sympathies and condolences to the families involved in this horrible tragedy.

10

Thistledhu,

Fife 28/10/2007 16:36:35

this i s a tragic event, sadly this is not a unique event and sadly will happen again in the future.

Loch Lomond is a fantastic place to sail, motor boat and fish on but like many others i have been on the loch when the weather has turned i was fortunate enough to be on a boat with strong enough engines and big enough to cope.

Yes safety equipment is a must , perhaps a booking out system to moniter who and what part of the loch is in use particular by those in small boats that cant cope in such situations.

lets us not forget the efforts of the Luss rescue boat, coastguard, police, and Royal Navy

My deepest sympathies to all those affected by yesterdays tragic accident.

11

Sambo,

The deep south 28/10/2007 19:07:09

Myself and a friend sailed the loch in July and August in an inflatable catamaran (you might have seen us on BBC TV during the Barclays Scottish Open golf) , we had to register our departure at the Balloch boat ramp and we made sure we were wearing an approved life preserver, one day the wind was blowing a steady 22 knots with gusts up to 30. Loch Lomond water temp. is around 45F in summer and would give a floating person approx. 2 hours before dying.
Beautiful scenery but a treacherous body of water.

12

David Cavers,

Ontario, Canada 28/10/2007 21:58:18

Very tragic indeed. My heart goes out to the families.

13

Robert Thomson Kerr,

Vancouver, B.C.Canada Scot from Loch Lomond 29/10/2007 00:57:10

I remember an English man and his very young son drowning at Inveruglas camp ground, while out in a boat on the Loch around 1967. An older son dived in to help, and was lucky to live, as were the other children. When the police divers found their bodies, the father was clutching the little boy.The children were at our school (Arrochar & Tarbet primary) and so it was tragic for us kids to realize just how vulnerable life is. Now that I remember, I think an older boy(10) was also lost, and we had been used to seeing him daily at school. We remember them every time we pass that spot, when in Scotland of course. None of them were great (if at all) swimmers! Sir James Colquhoun from the most prominant family on Loch Lomond, also drowned while bringing dead (shot) deer, for his neighbours, off an island in his rowing boat in the late 19 century.His rememberance statue still stands in the water near Luss.There is more chance of drowning in fresh water than Sea water (something to do with salt adding bouyancy). Many people lost their lives in Loch Lomond, and animals, and there are sure to be many more, especially if people are not educated on the dangers. My father (whom ) still lives on the "banks", remembers nearly falling in on occassions while crossing the loch(with other farmers and sheep dogs in the 60's.


 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.