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Boys rescued by helicopter and lifeboat after kayaks become caught in bad weather on Loch Ness


By Val Sweeney

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One of the boys is handed over to the ambulance crew.
One of the boys is handed over to the ambulance crew.

Two boys were rescued by a helicopter and inshore lifeboat from the shores of Loch Ness and taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness after their kayaks became caught in bad weather.

The incident, which happened just after 5pm, was one of three callouts for the Loch Ness RNLI crew yesterday afternoon.

The Sheila and Dennis Tongue IV lifeboat, with four volunteer crew members on board, was launched after the alarm was raised that two boys had become stranded on a steep and overgrown section of the loch's southern shore.

The Loch Ness RNLI crew go to the rescue one of the boys.
The Loch Ness RNLI crew go to the rescue one of the boys.

"On arrival on scene, opposite Invermoriston, the HM Coastguard helicopter was in the process of recovering one of the boys," an RNLI spokesman said.

"Once he had been recovered, they left the scene heading directly for Raigmore hospital.

"The RNLI crew were able to recover the second casualty and take him across the loch to a waiting ambulance crew."

It is understand he was a teenager and had become very cold.

The boys are thought to be on holiday in the area with their family.

David Ferguson, of the Loch Ness RNLI crew warned of the dangers on the loch.

"The boys were fairly well prepared but I do think a lot of people greatly underestimate the dangers of the loch," he said.

"The weather can change in seconds out there and a calm journey can quickly turn into something very precarious.

"If you do get caught out in the middle of the loch, it would be a very long swim to safety.

"Fortunately for them, it seems they were close to the southern shore. However, with the steep slopes, and lack of road access, it’s only a relative form of safety.

"Thankfully, they wisely had a phone with them so were able to raise the alarm, with an accurate position very quickly."

The crew was also called out just before 1.30pm to a powered sail boat which had experienced an engine failure.

The crew on the way to rescue the sail boat.
The crew on the way to rescue the sail boat.

On arrival at the scene, the engine of the stricken vessel had been restarted with spare parts on board.

The lifeboat escorted it on the rest of its journey through Loch Ness until it was eventually able to rendezvous with the HM Coastguard shore team at Dochgarroch.

The crew was also called out at 4.20pm but stood down.

Throughout the day, all coronavirus protocols were followed.

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