Tobermory RNLI tasked to ‘Mayday’ before training on popular lighthouse path

The pagers of the volunteer crew went off just after 4pm following the report of a ‘Mayday’ from a yacht in distress in Loch Sunart. The crew were just slipping lines at the berth when Stornoway Coastguard advised them to stand down as the yacht was no longer in difficulty.

Tobermory RNLI Coxswain David McHaffie said: ‘We would much rather be called at an early stage and have to stand down than be called out when things have gone badly wrong. The skipper took exactly the right action.’

A few hours later at Tuesday night training, the crew carried out an exercise along the newly restored path to the lighthouse at Rubha nan Gall. Four members of the crew acted as casualties whilst the rest of the crew on the Severn class lifeboat, Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey, and her daughter craft carried out a shoreline search to locate, treat and evacuate them.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Dr Sam Jones explained the reasons behind the exercise: ‘Since its welcome restoration last year, the lighthouse path is once again hugely popular with locals and visitors alike. It has seen a significant increase in users compared to a few years ago and whilst the path is much improved, there are still some steep drops. Tonight’s exercise was aimed at ensuring that we are well prepared for any eventualities out on this wonderful path.’

Notes to editors

Please credit photographs to RNLI/Dr Sam Jones.

The popular lighthouse path has been restored through a project led by the Mull and Iona Community Trust and supported by Scottish Natural Heritage with assistance from the Northern Lighthouse Board, Scottish Sea Farms and Glensanda Quarry.

For further information, please contact Dr Sam Jones, Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager on 07747601900 or Gemma Macdonald, Regional Media Officer for Scotland on 07826 900639.

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