Latest news with #Coxswain
STV News
11-07-2025
- Climate
- STV News
Sailing dinghy rescued by lifeboat after capsizing multiple times in bad weather
A sailing dinghy had to be rescued by lifeboat volunteers after getting into difficulty in Raasay. The Portree RNLI crew were called to help the vessel that was struggling in poor weather conditions in the Loch Arnish area on Thursday. The dinghy had sent out a distress call, giving HM Coastguard its identity and location. After lifeboat crews arrived on the scene, they spotted a sailing dinghy at the south end of Fladday Island. The small vessel was said to be going round in circles and had a single occupant on board. It was found to have capsized multiple times with the sailor struggling to right the vessel due to the weather conditions. The sailor was taken onboard the lifeboat while the dinghy was towed to a nearby mooring. The rescue was the second in just a few days for the team after they were called out to help a yacht west of the island of Rona. The alarm was raised around 3.25pm on Monday after the vessel had lost steering. After ensuring the safety of those onboard, the yacht was towed to the nearest safe port of Portree. This is the second shout to the island of Rona for the Portree RNLI lifeboat this year. In February, the volunteers were tasked with assisting a casualty who had fallen and injured themselves on the island. Stuart Nicolson, Portree RNLI lifeboat Coxswain, said: 'Once we had established that the sailor onboard the dinghy was safe and well, I then made the decision to tow the vessel to the mooring after being requested to assess the situation by HM Coastguard. 'The sailor was very well equipped, including having the right means to call for help, which is vital when you are on the water. 'The weather conditions were challenging today, and I would like to thank the crew once again for their swift response to the pagers for the second time this week. Our volunteer crew members are always on call and ready to respond to calls for help.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
14-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Why saving lives at sea is truly a family affair in Fraserburgh
Vic Sutherland, Coxswain for almost 20 years, volunteers alongside his 21-year-old daughter Eilidh, his brother David and his nephew Declan. Together, the four family members make up part of the crew that helps save lives at sea. Vic Sutherland said: "It's probably overwhelming for the rest of the crew having four Sutherlands aboard the boat – they probably feel like they can't move for us, but I'm very proud of the family connection." READ MORE: He added: "The fact I'm going to sea with David, along with my nephew Declan and now my daughter Eilidh – I'm really proud they're carrying on the family tradition, just as we followed in our dad's footsteps." The two brothers have half a century in the life-saving organisation between them, and the family's RNLI connection goes back decades. Mr Sutherland said: "My dad was a fisherman and crew member. I remember the phone ringing and him dropping everything to go – there were no pagers then, just the house phone. You would know within a matter of seconds when it was the lifeboat calling, because my dad would drop the phone and run straight out of the house." He added: "It certainly set myself and David up with an itch to join the crew, it was a natural progression. I think it gave us a really good grounding, it's great for any youngster coming in. It gives you a sense of responsibility, because obviously the level of commitment that's going to be given is second to none. It also gives you a sense of pride, the fact that you're involved with the station." Mr Sutherland's daughter Eilidh, who recently joined as crew, says it felt inevitable she would follow the same path. Vic Snr, Vic, Dave and Declan (Image: RNLI) She said: "I grew up with the RNLI. My dad always says I've been going about with fundraising buckets since I could walk, and I always remember thinking I would love to be part of the crew." Despite their close bond, the 21-year-old says professionalism comes first on the boat. She added: "It's definitely brought us closer, but when I'm at the station, he's not my dad – he's the Coxswain and I'm the crew." Father's Day itself will be a working one for Vic Sutherland at RNLI Fraserburgh. He said: "I'll open my cards and get my socks or a bottle of whisky, but I'm on duty this weekend so it's just like any other day. If the pager goes off, you're getting on with it and doing what needs to be done. That's been the way for the whole of Eilidh's life." He added: "My girls have experienced the pager going off at every kind of time over the years, whether it's a Father's Day, Mother's Day, anniversaries - if the pager goes, you just respond. It wouldn't be the first time they had been left sitting in a restaurant or abandoned sitting in Tesco's with their mum because they've went in for the shopping, I've been sitting in the car and the pager's gone and they understand I've had to go." And for families considering volunteering together, daughter Eilidh said: "Just go for it. It's brought us closer being there for that part of each other's lives, because it's the biggest part of our lives. Working on the boat with my dad and going out to help people together is just an amazing feeling." Established in 1858, Fraserburgh was the first RNLI station in Scotland. Its crews have been honoured with 16 awards for gallantry, the most recent of which was in 1997 when a Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Albert Sutherland in recognition of his outstanding seamanship and high standard of leadership when the lifeboat City of Edinburgh rescued six people and saved the fishing vessel Hopecrest some 50 miles north east of the lifeboat station in very rough seas and severe gale.
STV News
29-05-2025
- General
- STV News
Vessel rescued after becoming entangled in fish farm ropes
A fishing vessel was rescued near Skye on Wednesday after it became entangled in ropes at a fish farm. The Portree RNLI lifeboat was dispatched to the scene near Rigg after they were alerted to a trapped fishing vessel at 10.18am. A second lifeboat, the Trent class Stanley Watson Barker, launched 15 minutes later for the Trotternish peninsula in the North East of the island. The vessel was freed and safely towed. RNLI Portree Volunteers were called out twice in three days. RNLI Portree Hamish Corrigall, Portree RNLI lifeboat Coxswain, said: 'When we arrived on scene, our priority was to ensure that the vessel and those onboard were safe and well. 'Once this had been established, we were then able to assist with freeing the fishing vessel. We assessed the situation before making the decision that undertaking a tow was necessary and the safest way to assist the casualties. 'We carry out regular training exercises for all types of emergency scenario, including vessel entanglement and fouled props, so the crew worked well together to ensure the vessel could be towed to safety.' Three days earlier, on May 25, volunteers from Portree RNLI were called to assist a casualty with a head injury on a yacht in Portree Bay. The crew provided emergency casualty care before transferring the casualty to the Portree pontoon and into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Galway RNLI responds to back-to-back medical evacuations off Aran Islands
The Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat crew responded to two back-to-back medical evacuations from Inis Mór over the weekend. First, on Saturday May 24 at 1.40pm, the volunteer crew were requested to launch the all-weather Severn lifeboat, David Kirkaldy, following a request from the Coast Guard to transfer a patient off Inis Mór. Weather conditions at the time were fair with a force 5 south westerly wind. The crew received handover from the local doctor and with the assistance of the Aran Fire and Rescue Service, the lifeboat crew transferred the patient onboard. The lifeboat departed Inis Mór and safely transferred the patient to Ros a Mhíl and into the care of an awaiting ambulance crew. The next call came in during the early hours of Sunday morning at 2.15am, when the crew were requested to launch for a medical evacuation from Inis Mór. Arriving on scene, the crew received a handover from the island doctor before assisting the patient onboard the lifeboat where they were safely transferred to Ros a Mhíl and into the care of an awaiting ambulance. Both launches were led by Noel Seoighe, marking his first two successful callouts as Coxswain within a span of just over 12 hours. Speaking following the call out, Coxswain Noel Seoighe said: 'We would like to wish both casualties a speedy recovery. A big thank you for our volunteers who never hesitate to answer the pagers. 'As we see an increase of tourists visiting the Aran Islands, we would like to remind anyone planning a trip or activity at sea to enjoy themselves but to go prepared. Check weather and tides before venturing out, always wear a lifejacket or suitable flotation device for your activity and carry a means of communication. Should you get into difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.'
Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I risked jail by writing illegal WW2 diary – now at age 99 I want to share my secrets after hiding it for 80-years
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORCES fighting in World War Two knew the rules: Anyone who kept a diary risked being be jailed. But now, at the age of 99½, ex-Royal Marine Tom Hill has finally decided to reveal his secret wartime journal. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 At the age of 99½, ex-Royal Marine Tom Hill has finally decided to reveal his secret wartime journal Credit: Paul Tonge 7 Tom showed The Sun the tiny booklet that he has kept hidden for 80 years, pictured in military uniform Credit: Paul Tonge 7 Tom in a New York bar in August 1944 before heading out to the Pacific Credit: Paul Tonge Father-of-two Tom showed The Sun the tiny booklet that he has kept hidden for 80 years. It records the horrors and hilarity of war. As the anniversary of VE Day — when war ended in Europe — approaches, Tom says: 'I knew if I was caught with it I'd have ended up in jail. 'But I went to so many places and I knew if I didn't write them all down I'd forget where I'd been. 'I kept it hidden with my medical kit in a front leg pocket. Thankfully, the medical kit wasn't ever inspected so I got away with it.' But what a tale the notebook, only slightly bigger than a credit card, has to tell. It goes from the beaches of Normandy, where Tom spent 16 days under fire before his landing craft was sunk, to the Far East and Australia. He was in the Panama Canal when VE Day was declared on May 8, 1945. His delighted last entry on May 30 says simply: 'UK — Here I come!' Despite working as a tool setter — a protected job that meant he would never have to fight — Tom volunteered to join the Royal Marines, the only regiment that would take 17-year-olds, and he became a landing craft Coxswain. I went to so many places and knew if I didn't write them down I'd forget. I hid the diary in my medical kit and thankfully I got away with it Tom At his home in Birmingham, he says: 'I wanted to do my bit for my country, especially after witnessing Coventry Road being bombed and seeing first-hand how we were being targeted by the Germans.' WW2 Pilot Joe Peterburs who survived being shot down returns to skies Here, he reflects on some of the entries from his first-hand account of history . . . JUNE 1943: After six weeks training in Portsmouth, Tom travels to Scotland to join the former merchant ship Empire Battleaxe, which was home to 90 marines. JUNE 4, 1944: Back in Portsmouth, Tom ferries troops out to the Battleaxe at anchor in the Solent. He says: 'We didn't know of the plan for the D-Day landings in France. 'The first we knew of it was seeing troops playing with foreign money on board the ship. We hadn't been told a thing!' JUNE 6, 1944: After being held back 24 hours due to bad weather, Tom arrives off Normandy. He was in the four-man crew of an LCA landing craft, navigating eight miles through choppy waters, taking 35 troops at a time across from the ship to Sword Beach. 7 Tom's badge to signify he was part of combined operations Credit: Paul Tonge He says: 'The sights we saw going back and forth were terrible, just awful, ships being sunk and injured troops in the water, but we had to keep going. 'Shells were going over our heads, troops were being shot at. By night all hell seemed to break loose and we were in the crossfire. 'Either side of us I could see LCAs with their doors blown off. The sergeant on another LCA signalled to me that he had one engine and couldn't fire the other. 'He asked me to move around and take a look. 'I could see a body of one of our troops was wrapped round the propeller shaft rendering it unusable.' For 16 days Tom and his crew ferried in hundreds of troops and supplies to the beaches before being used to deliver mail. On one mail run they came across a ship where a shell had gone through a hatch, killing every soldier onboard. Tom recalls: 'There were two lads sharing a flagon of rum while they filled bags with body parts from down below.' JUNE 22, 1944: On day 16, the landing craft is hit by a storm and sunk. Tom says: 'We abandoned ship and swam together to the nearest boat, which was an American tugboat. 'The captain told us they were returning to the USA and asked if we wanted to go with them. If I drank one rum I must have had two or three pints of it. I've never ever been drunk since then. After grot time, where we spent time with pals, I was tied in my hammock from 11 o'clock until 4 o'clock. The lads thought it was hilarious Tom 'While the idea of a new life far from the noise of D-Day was an attractive thought, we got aboard a British ship and were given five days survivor's leave.' He then rejoined HMS Battleaxe on an 11-month mission, attached to the American 7th Fleet, all over the Pacific, from Samoa to Sydney. NOVEMBER 25, 1944: My 19th birthday, in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. A day I will never forget. Tom says: 'If I drank one rum I must have had two or three pints of it. I've never ever been drunk since then. After grot time, where we spent time with pals, I was tied in my hammock from 11 o'clock until 4 o'clock. 'The lads thought it was hilarious.' Later, a prisoner of war became seriously ill and Tom had to ferry a doctor from an American ship to treat him. He says: 'I got alongside and shouted for them to throw a line down. I was greeted with the response, 'Sorry pal, I haven't got a pen or paper'. 'It made me really cross that I had to sit in the water for a long time waiting for a rope while we had a really sick POW.' 7 Tom serving in Australia in 1944 Credit: Paul Tonge MARCH 19, 1945: Sydney. Tom says: 'Water was always in short supply so we'd strip off and shower in the rain. We had a detachment arrive of six nurses who were all on deck when it started raining. 'A Tannoy announcement reminded us there were females on board and not to strip off and shower. 'One of the nurses piped up, 'Don't worry, lads. We've seen it all before'. MAY 8, 1945: Panama Canal. Tom says: 'VE Day didn't matter much to me. By then, D-Day and France felt like it was far away. 'But despite the end of it all in Europe, the campaign in the Pacific and Japan was still going on.' MAY 30, 1945: New York. UK here we come. Tom says: 'We got back into Portsmouth and were given ten days leave. Our commanding officer told us to make the most of it as afterwards we would be heading back to the Philippines. I remember feeling like it was really unfair. We'd been everywhere.' Eighty years later, retired school caretaker Tom carries survivor's guilt that he made it home when he watched so many others perish. On Thursday, Tom will be attending a Royal British Legion VE Day party with dozens of World War Two veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffs. He says: 'I'm one of the lucky ones, I'm still here. What I saw on D-Day and in the Pacific will always stay with me. 'So many good men I served with didn't get to see the world in peace. 'I think of them all often and will do so again on VE Day.' 7 Tom helped British troops land on Sword Beach for D-Day Credit: IWM 7 Veterans and volunteers celebrate new walkway at therapy garden Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
