2 shouts, hours apart - Leverburgh RNLI
Leverburgh RNLI Lifeboat attends 2 shouts in a matter of hours
At 0703 hours on Wednesday 23rd August Stornoway Coastguard requested the launch of Leverburgh RNLI Lifeboat after receiving reports that a yacht was in difficulty in the Peters Port area of Benbecula. The 12 metre vessel, which had 4 passengers on board, had dragged its anchor and grounded nearby. The volunteer crew made their way to the scene where the yacht had re-floated, with assistance from 2 local fishfarm vessels. Leverburgh Lifeboat escorted the yacht to the safety of Kallin Harbour, where divers carried out a full safety inspection. RNLB The Royal Thames was back in Leverburgh, refuelled and ready for service again by 12.30 pm.
The efforts of the station’s LOM (Lifeboat Operations Manager), Chris Ross, and crew member, Shaun Morrison to reach the morning’s shout were hampered by mother nature as a landslide on the Leverburgh – Finsbay peat road prevented them from getting directly to the station. A night of heavy rain made conditions difficult for many throughout the Western Isles, even into the following day. The attached picture was taken by the LOM’s son, Roddy. Thankfully, there was an alternative route which drivers were able to use while the road was blocked and no one was hurt when the landslide took place.
The second shout for the Leverburgh RNLI crew came just a few hours after their return from Benbecula, when they were tasked to take part in a search for a missing 73 year old male from Berneray, Harris. In addition to the Lifeboat being present, a full-scale search was carried out by Coastguard Helicopter - Rescue 948, the local Coastguard Land Units and locals from the the area itself.
Sadly, after an extensive multi-agency search, a body was recovered in a nearby loch.
All at Leverburgh RNLI Lifeboat would like to extend their sympathies to all those affected by this tragedy.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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