Loch Ness Lifeboat volunteers called out from Highland Games

The lifeboat crew, Neil Stebbings at Helm with Jamie Young and recent recruit Joel Keating, were minutes away from the lifeboat on Saturday and immediately made their way to the casualty which had drifted powerless quite close to the shore. Having taken the vessel safely under tow on to Fort Augustus the crew then returned to base and refuelled ready for the next shout.

On Monday lunchtime the crew pagers went off again as the lifeboat was tasked to assist a motor cruiser which had engine problems. Helmsman Garry MacLeod with Sandra Delday and David Ferguson attended the vessel which was situated near Foyers with four adults and a dog on board. The lifeboat volunteers pulled the vessel away from the shore with a stern tow and then attached an alongside tow to escort the casualty to Urquhart Bay Harbour, where they handed over to the Coastguard.

This most recent was the 24th shout for the Loch Ness Lifeboat since their first rescue this year on 6 March. One shout away from last years total it seems 2017 will continue the trend of each year getting busier than the last on Loch Ness.

Construction is well under way on the new Loch Ness lifeboat station at Urquhart Bay Harbour and a brand new lifeboat is also due to be operational for next season.