Cruise ship passenger and fisherman airlifted to hospital in two Highland rescue missions

A cruise ship passenger and a fisherman were both airlifted to hospital in Inverness in two rescue missions a few hours apart in the Highlands.

HM Coastguard teams, alongside the Scottish Ambulance Service, were called to a passenger requiring medical assistance onboard a vessel moored at Ullapool harbour.

The call came in around 4.30pm on Thursday, June 19, and the woman was taken to Raigmore Hospital by the coastguard helicopter.

Her condition is unknown.

In a separate incident, just before 6pm on Thursday, Coastguard teams from Inverness attended reports of a fisherman who required medical assistance while on a vessel west of Canna, in the Small Isles.

The Coastguard helicopter transferred the man to Raigmore Hospital.

His condition is also unknown.

A spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard was alerted just after 4.30pm on Thursday, June 19 after a passenger required medical assistance onboard a vessel moored at Ullapool harbour.

“Ullapool and Achulitibie coastguard rescue teams, a coastguard helicopter and Scottish Ambulance Service all attended.

“The woman was taken to Raigmore Hospital by the coastguard helicopter.”

On the second incident involving the fisherman, they added: “Just before 6pm on Thursday, HM Coastguard was alerted to a fisherman who required medical assistance while on a vessel west of Canna, Small Isles.

“The Coastguard helicopter transferred the man to Raigmore Hospital.

“Inverness Coastguard Rescue Team also attended.”