Two men and fishing boat still missing as weather hampers search off Lewis

The body of one man has been recovered while two other men remain missing as search teams face challenging conditions in the Western Isles.

Search and rescue teams were deployed to an area north of the Isle of Lewis, following reports that a vessel carrying three people failed to make port on Tuesday night.

A HM Coastguard plane from Humberside and another from Prestwick, two helicopters, six Coastguard teams and two RNLI teams, as well as a local vessel, have been searching the area known as the Butt of Lewis, near Port of Ness.

However, progress in locating the two missing crewmen and the vessel has been hindered by adverse weather conditions, with a decision to be made on Thursday morning, whether to resume search efforts.

To mark the tragedy, a minute’s silence will be held at the Royal National Mod in Glasgow.

In an online statement, Mod organisers said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with everyone affected by yesterday’s tragedy on the Isle of Lewis.

“As a mark of respect, a one-minute silence will be observed at 9am on Thursday ahead of the day’s competitions starting.”

Police Scotland confirmed the body of one of the men had been recovered at around 2.45am on Wednesday morning.

The vessel has been confirmed as the UK-registered fishing vessel Kilda by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

A spokesperson said: “The MAIB has deployed a team of inspectors to conduct a preliminary assessment into the loss of the UK registered fishing vessel Kilda near the Isle of Lewis.

“A decision on whether an investigation will be carried out will be taken once the evidence gathered during the preliminary assessment has been reviewed.”

In an update on Wednesday afternoon, police said conditions were “very challenging” and warned people against going out to search.

Chief Inspector Ross McCartney, local area commander for the Western Isles, said: “We are very aware of the impact that this incident will have on communities across the Outer Hebrides and beyond. 

“I would like to reassure people that considerable efforts are ongoing between ourselves and partners to locate the vessel and the two remaining unaccounted for crew members.

“The families of all three men involved are being provided with specialist support as these searches continue. 

“We know that the local community will be keen to help in any way they can. However, conditions are very challenging, and I would urge people not to put themselves at any risk. Please do not attempt to carry out searches in areas which put you at risk of harm.

The RNLI lifeboat from Stornoway joined the search shortly after 9pm on Tuesday and hunted for the missing fishing boat for more than eight hours.

HM Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway and a plane from Humberside searched in grid patterns to the north of the Butt of Lewis before heading back to base shortly after 3am. The Coastguard plane G-HMGH flew to Prestwick.

The RNLI lifeboat from Lochinver joined the search after midnight and returned to port just after 7am on Wednesday.

At around 4.30am, a second helicopter began searching the area.

The Coastguard plane G-HMGH returned to the search area shortly after 6am.

A second Coastguard plane from Prestwick conducted a search over a larger area between 10am and midday on Wednesday.

The original Coastguard plane G-HMGH returned to conduct a third search at around 12.30pm.

The RNLI lifeboat from Stornoway was launched just after 9.40pm following a request for assistance from HM Coastguard.

The lifeboat from Lochinver, launched at midnight on Tuesday, could be seen conducting searches near the Butt of Lewis.

An RNLI spokesperson said: “Stornoway RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was tasked at 9.42pm on Tuesday, October 13 at the request of HM Coastguard to assist in the search for an overdue fishing vessel off the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

“The search, involving Coastguard air and ground assets, was joined by Lochinver RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat a short time later and continued into Wednesday morning.”

A Coastguard spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard received a report at around 9.20pm yesterday (October 13) of a fishing vessel with three people on board that was overdue from Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides.

“A coastguard aeroplane, two coastguard helicopters, six coastguard rescue teams, two RNLI lifeboats, a local vessel and Police Scotland are all involved in the search.”

Kenneth Macleod, convenor of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “It is a very dark day for the communities affected by this tragedy.

“We can’t even begin to comprehend what the families of the three fishermen are going through at this moment.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with them. It is not easy for the teams out searching, with very strong gusts of wind and heavy rain.

“We are very grateful for all those out searching in very challenging weather conditions.”