Lucky escape for Loch Ness rescue men
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THE skipper of a tourist boat has been praised for his role in saving two canoeists after they capsized in Loch Ness.
Rescuers from Loch Ness RNLI said John Minshull made a vital contribution when he went to the scene at around 4pm on Tuesday.
"He was absolutely key in helping us rescue these men," said volunteer crewman Martin Douglas.
One of the men was transferred into Mr Minshull’s boat, allowing the second person to be recovered from the water.
The canoe containing the men — both thought to be in their 20s — capsized at about 3.45pm after taking on water one mile south of Urquhart Castle.
Three other people in their group were in another canoe and contacted emergency services.
Modest in his role in the rescue Mr Minshull, was sailing along Loch Ness with two tourists from Bristol when he became aware of the drama.
"I was out on a cruise and I heard that the lifeboat was out in the area where I was so I sailed along to find them and radioed and asked if they needed assistance," he explained.
Determined to find the canoeists, Mr Minshull handed the tourists binoculars to help in the search, while he tried to manoeuvre his boat.
"The lifeboat people got the man onto my boat and I showed the tourists where the blankets and gloves were to keep him warm while I raced back to Temple Pier in Drumnadrochit," he added.
"It was really about team work. The tourists said it was better than going on a tourist cruise as it was more exciting."
As well as being at the helm of the tourist boat Deepscan, Mr Minshull has also been skipper for the Loch Ness Project for the last 20 years, training volunteers and students in sampling techniques and boat safety. Throughout his years on the Loch, Mr Minshull has helped out in numerous rescues.
The RNLI crew said it was on scene within 12 minutes and the men were receiving treatment from paramedics at Temple Pier within 45 minutes.
Both men were suffering varying degrees of hypothermia and needed to be taken to Raigmore Hospital.
One of the men was in the water for 25 minutes, the other for 15 minutes.
"They were desperately lucky," Mr Douglas commented.
"To be thrown into the water when not expecting it and without waterproof clothing means they were very fortuitous to survive."
It is believed neither of the men were wearing life jackets.
"Anybody going on the water should inform people of their route and expected arrival time, as well as wearing protective clothing and flotation aids plus carrying some sort of communication device," Mr Douglas added.
The group is understood to be from England and on an expedition of the Great Glen Way, leaving Fort William yesterday morning.
