Portree RNLI called to island of Rona

Portree RNLI lifeboat Stanley Watson Barker, a Trent class lifeboat, launched just after 4.30pm on Wednesday 20 February 2025.

The remote island of Rona is situated at the northern tip of Raasay and has a total area of just over 3.5 square miles.

After reaching the island in 30 minutes at a top speed of 25 knots, the volunteer crew provided emergency casualty care to one person who had sustained injuries after falling off a path on the island.

The casualty was transferred back to Portree on the RNLI lifeboat and placed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Hamish Corrigall, Coxswain at Portree RNLI, said:

‘We carry out regular training exercises on the island of Rona, which means that we can provide the best response to any emergency situation that might arise. The island can often be busy with visitors and pleasure craft, so it is important that our volunteer crew are familiar with the set up of the landing point and the land itself.

‘Everyone at Portree RNLI sends their best wishes to the casualty and wishes them a speedy recovery.’

The RNLI is a charity that has been saving lives at sea for over two hundred years. Our volunteer crew members are on call and ready to respond to calls for help 24 hrs a day, 365 days of the year.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The photo ‘Stanley Watson Barker on exercise off Rona’ is credited to RNLI/Robert MacInnes. The photo ‘Portree lifeboat called to island of Rona’ is credited to RNLI/Adam MacDonald.
• Portree Lifeboat Station was established in 1991 and operates a Trent class all-weather lifeboat – ‘Stanley Watson Barker’. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/portree-lifeboat-station
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution is shorted to RNLI throughout this press release.

RNLI media contacts

For further information, please contact:

Robert MacInnes, Trainee Lifeboat Press Officer at Portree RNLI: 07950 421 829 / [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 or [email protected]

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.