Loch Ness RNLI see busy start to the year with five shouts

Four volunteer crew members from the Loch Ness RNLI Lifeboat Station launched the RNLI Loch Ness Sheila & Dennis Tongue IV lifeboat and made their way towards a small motor cruiser which had run aground on a sandbar in Urquhart Bay harbour, just metres from the lifeboat station.

Neil Stebbings, volunteer helm at Loch Ness RNLI Lifeboat Station, says: ‘The lifeboat launched to assess the situation of a small hire cruiser which had run aground nearby after misidentifying the harbour buoyage and running aground on a sandbar. Fortunately, no-one on board was injured and there was no damage to the boat. We made the decision that undertaking a tow was necessary and the safest way to assist the casualties. We established a tow to pull the cruiser back into the water and the occupants were able to continue with their holiday.’

Just a few days prior on Thursday 3 April, the volunteer crew also rescued another hire cruiser that had run into the same problem.

Simon Cameron, volunteer helm at Loch Ness RNLI Lifeboat Station, says: ‘The Easter break is always a busy time at Loch Ness but the exceptional weather we’ve had in the past week has seen more hire cruisers exploring the area. Both boats had run aground on a sandbar in Urquhart Bay harbour but our crew made sure they were quickly on their way again. It’s great to see so many people getting out onto the water and enjoying Loch Ness but it’s important to always study navigational aids closely to ensure safe berthing for boats of all sizes.’

Notes to editors

· Loch Ness lifeboat station was established in 2008

· Situated on the northern shore of the iconic Loch Ness, lifeboat station volunteers operate in a unique, inland environment

· To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/loch-ness-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Lynsey Morgan, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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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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