Lifeboat Rescues.

Latest press release from the RNLI Lifeboat stationed on Loch Ness.

 News Release
11th July 2009 Loch Ness
Family rescued and marathon canoeist pulled to safety on Loch Ness.A terrified family with five year old daughter were rescued after being driven onto rocks on Loch Ness following and engine failure on their cruiser this evening.
Loch Ness RNLI were busy completing the rescue of a long distance canoeist who had capsized near Urquhart Castle when they were tasked by Aberdeen Coastguard to search for a cruiser that had run onto rocks following a suspected gearbox failure.Volunteer crew members Neil Hillyard, Sandra Delday and Howie Whyte were recovering the kayak and belongings of Stuart Walker, who was in the middle of a mammoth trip from the Scilly Isles to Shetland, after he had been plucked to safety by Gordon Menzies in the tourist cruiser Morag no Chridhe. The RNLI team were directed by the MRCC (Maritime Rescue Control Centre) in Aberdeen to locate and assist the hire cruiser Eriskay with family members Dad David, Mum Janice, Grandmother Margaret and five year old daughter Rachel on board. The family's boat had suffered a power failure and had been driven onto a rocky shoreline one mile north of Drumnadrochit.In what has been described as very challenging conditions, the RNLI lifeboat Beatrice Dorothy transferred crewman Howie Whyte onto the stricken cruiser. After a check to see that the boat wasn't holed, it was taken under tow to Urquhart Harbour. Family member Janice Hill says..My mother-in law, daughter and myself were hysterical with fear. We thought that was it. Then we saw the RNLI lifeboat and realised help was coming. The lifeboatman, Howie, was so calming and friendly and made us feel really safe. Mother-in-law Margaret says ..I was ready to jump off the boat into the water I was so terrified. The family hope to continue their holiday tomorrow when they are given a replacement hire boat. They will be visiting the lifeboat station tomorrow and hope to meet the crew and see the facilities that enabled their rescue.
Canoeist Stuart Walker did not need medical treatment but is considering whether to continue his epic journey.

That was the week that was.

A real start to the week with strong winds and driving rain. Quite a few trawlers chose to use the Great Glen route to avoid the choppy Pentland Firth and several ferry routes to the islands were cancelled due to the high winds. The Loch Ness Lifeboat has been seen out on training exercises. We were quite surprised to see 'The Lord of the Glens' cruise liner travel along Loch Ness towards Fort William. It glided silently past in the dusk of the late afternoon with a light shining from the front mast.
The wildlife has been abundant in the colder weather. The red squirrels have been daily feeders on the nuts.

In the morning the various birds wait in the nearby trees for their breakfast menu to appear and the tiny, but bold, coal tits fly round the table impatiently as I put out their favourite sunflower hearts. Male and female pheasants have been sauntering up the driveway and then hop over the small fence and disappear down the bank. Deer have suddenly emerged out of the bracken in the surrounding forest and munch on the leaves of the blueberry bushes.

Had snow flurries yesterday for most of the day and we woke up this morning to find it had laid on the high ground opposite. More is forecast for today all over the country with temperatures well below freezing tonight. Definite log fire and a few warming drams called for.

Lifeboat rescue on Loch Ness.

Lifeboat on exercise finds family of five and pet dog stranded on loch.

Loch Ness RNLI lifeboat team, on a training session this morning, discovered a motor cruiser aground in Urquhart Bay, Drumnadrochit, shortly after 8am. The group of Welsh tourists and pet dog "Chadwick" had been stuck fast since last night.
The family had felt safe enough to wait out the night in the bay and deal with the problem after a good night's sleep.
The RNLI Loch Ness team were training in the area and noticed the rented vessel was in an unsafe position. An RNLI volunteer crew member, Howie Whyte, was transferred to the cruiser "Teal" and found all to be fit and well. A tow was established and the vessel was pulled free. The cruiser appeared to be watertight and not to have suffered any serious damage so was able to continue on it's journey.
Aberdeen Coastguard had been informed of the situation and acted as a coordinating authority.
Howie Whyte, Loch Ness RNLI Crewman and local Crofter says "The family appeared in good spirits and were very relieved to see the lifeboat "Mercurius"and it's crew".
Kindest regards
Martin Douglas
Crew Member/Lifeboat Press Officer
Loch Ness Lifeboat

Local Heroes on Loch Ness

Press report from the Loch Ness RNLI Lifeboat...14th September 2008

Local Heroes on Loch Ness. Two off duty Lifeguards came to the rescue of a 21 year old woman who suffered a suspected spinal injury in a water ski accident on Loch Ness this afternoon . Loch Ness RNLI Lifeboat team launched and arrived on scene with an RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth.

The original incident was witnessed by the off-duty Lifeguards, Laura Munro and Mhairi Burns, who quickly recognised the need to immobilise the injured woman until emergency teams arrived.
The three people in the water were sheltered by the quick thinking skipper of the fishing boat "Asbo".

Ross Edwards, RNLI Loch Ness volunteer Helm, says.
"The two off-duty lifeguards and the skipper of the fishing boat did a magnificent job in providing vital stability and reassurance to the young woman." "The crews of the Jacobite tourist boats, understanding the seriousness of the incident, kept their boats at an absolute crawl, minimising the possibility of their wake disturbing the casualty, a highly commendable action."
The young woman was placed in a Spinal Board by the lifeguards and RAF Winchman, Mark Dean and the Loch Ness RNLI crew, Howie Whyte and Vivian Bailey. She was then airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness for further assessment and treatment.

RNLI volunteer crewman, Howie Whyte heard about the incident when he was taking tourist passengers on a trip on the loch. He immediately brought the boat, "Nessie Hunter" back into harbour and ran to the lifeboat station. His surprised but supportive passengers were taken care of and given a complimentary trip out on the research vessel "Deepscan" skippered by John Minshull. This arrangement is typical of all loch users and boat owners keen to support the RNLI and the work of its volunteer crews.

The Loch Ness RNLI team give their sincerest thanks to all the people involved in today's incident.

Loch Ness RNLI lifeboat station has been operating since April 2008.
Loch Ness is Scotland's only Inland Lifeboat
To learn more about the lifeboat station go to
Loch Ness RNLI website

Guests staying in Aspenwood this week happened to be at Dores on Sunday and witnessed the unfortunate incident.

Lifeboat in action.

Been in touch with the new RNLI Lifeboat team based at Temple Pier at Drumnadrochit near Urquhart Castle and they kindly sent more photos and an update of some of their recent rescues. They certainly do a grand job on Loch Ness. From where we live - on the shore of Loch Ness - we often see people on boats not really understanding how dangerous the enchanting and inviting deep waters of the loch can be.

New RNLI lifeboat on Loch Ness.

On Saturday morning we had great excitement when the huge yellow RAF Search and Rescue helicopter whizzed over Loch Ness near the village of Inverfarigaig churning up the waters. On closer investigation we realised it was co-ordinating with the new RNLI lifeboat on the water beneath it.

Launched in April 2008 Loch Ness is now home to the first RNLI lifeboat on the inshore waters of Scotland and it is the first time in 13 years that the RNLI has placed a lifeboat in a new location in Scotland.The joint training exercise with the RAF Search and Rescue helicopter involved the existing local volunteer lifeboat crew undertaking a variety of training exercises as well as operating with the winch.

See the video we took from Inverfarigaig.