Three dead after boat overturns

The boat capsized just north of Kilmory, in Ardnamurchan

Three people have died and one man has been rescued after a clam dredger capsized off north-west Scotland.

The rescued man was pulled from the water off Ardnamurchan Point by a yacht crew. Northern Constabulary said his injuries were not life threatening.

A member of the public saw the boat capsize near Bo Fascadale, about 1.5 miles north of Kilmory on Ardnamurchan peninsula, at about 1710 BST.

Two helicopters, two lifeboats and several other vessels were involved.

By 1815 BST one man had been pulled from the water by the crew of the yacht, Arran Comrade, which had responded to a coastguard mayday call.

A coastguard spokesman said the man had not been wearing a lifejacket.

He was transferred to the RNLI lifeboat from Mallaig and taken to Belford Hospital in Fort William.

The other three were later recovered from the water but were all pronounced dead on arrival at Broadford Hospital on the Isle of Skye.

One of the dead men was recovered by the RNLI lifeboat from Mallaig, the second was recovered by a Navy helicopter and the third by the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter.

All four had been recovered from the water by 2020 BST.

It's really very sad, that after all that effort, to have to concede that at the end of the night only one of those four is going home safe and well Michael Mulford RAF spokesman

An RNLI lifeboat from Tobermory was also involved in the operation.

Details of the deceased will not be issued until next of kin have been informed and formal identification has taken place.

RAF spokesman Michael Mulford told BBC Scotland: "The saddest thing is that the actual capsize was witnessed, which meant that the alarm was raised literally as the event happened.

"It's really very sad, that after all that effort, to have to concede that at the end of the night only one of those four is going home safe and well."

Mr Mulford said there had been a very quick response but added: "Not every search and rescue has a happy ending."

Scotland's Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "This is a terrible tragedy and my thoughts are with the crew's families and friends and the wider fishing industry at this time.

"This reminds us all of the dangerous environment in which our fishermen work each and every day and the brave efforts that our rescue services always make to help those in need."

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) will be launching an investigation into the incident.

Mr Mulford said there would be attempts to recover the dredger, before the painstaking process of the investigation into what he described as "such a tragedy".

A second major search and rescue operation was launched at about 2300 BST off Ardnamurchan Point after friends of a man who had been out on an inflatable boat reported him missing.