Three rescued from flooded fishing boat off Mull

Three people have been rescued from a flooded fishing boat that had got into difficulty off Mull.

Stornoway Coastguard was alerted to reports of a vessel in trouble south of the island, in the Inner Hebrides, at around 8.10am on Friday.

RNLI lifeboats from Islay and Oban were sent to the scene along with a rescue helicopter from Prestwick.

The local MV Loch Buie CalMac ferry, which serves between Mull and Iona, also joined in assisting, as did two local boats from the area whose owners volunteered to help.

The coastguard said when rescuers arrived, the fishing vessel had become flooded with a “significant amount” of water.

The three crew were rescued by lifeboat and were being taken back to land on Friday afternoon.

The MV Loch Buie initially assisted in towing the fishing vessel, but has since been stood down.

CalMac services between Fionnphort on Mull and Iona were suspended for a time while the ferry assisted the coastguard, but they later resumed.

A spokesperson for CalMac said: “This morning MV Loch Buie was called to assist the coastguard after a fishing vessel got in difficulty just south of the Isle of Mull.

“CalMac’s vessels regularly provide critical support to the coastguard and MV Loch Buie has since been stood down.

“The normal timetable resumed with the 2.15pm departure from Fionnphort.”

An HM Coastguard spokesperson said: “We received a distress call from a vessel at 8.10am. There were three persons on board.

“The vessel was taking in a significant amount of water.

“The three persons were rescued and we are currently escorting them back to safe haven.”