Off duty lifeboat crew come to the rescue of dive boat

The lifeboat was launched and made it's way to a local area known as the 'Old man of Wick' where it had it had been reported that a red flare was sighted.

As the lifeboat made its way to the scene, two vessels the 'Topaz and Sapphire' with off duty lifeboat crew who were out on a fishing competition, spotted the flare and made their way to the scene. On their way four divers were spotted in the water and each vessel rescued two divers.

When the lifeboat reached the casualty they became aware that there were another four divers and two crew still aboard the vessel. The dive boat was aground on the rocks but was not holed. The lifeboat then launched their XP boat and made their way to the casualty and attached a tow rope.

The lifeboat was then successful in pulling the casualty free from the rocks and secured them along side before returning them safely to Wick harbour.

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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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