'Barely conscious' man pulled from Loch Lomond after rescuers heard cries for help

A “barely conscious” man was pulled from the water at Loch Lomond in the middle of the night after a rescue crew heard his cries for help.

A multi-agency response, including an HM Coastguard rescue helicopter, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, and Scottish Ambulance Service, was sent to Balmaha around 11.55pm on Saturday following reports of a person in the water.

Loch Lomond Rescue Boat were called in to help and sent a team out to the location where the casualty was believed to be.

Following a search, the crew heard calls for help coming from Inchcailloch Island and the water.

The team were able to locate one “barely conscious” male in the water before bringing him into the boat and beginning casualty care.

The man was transferred to a waiting ambulance at Balmaha Pier before the crew returned to Inchcailloch Island, where three other men were rescued.

A spokesperson for Loch Lomond Rescue Boat said: “Utilising all our search equipment we located and recovered one barely conscious male from the water into the boat and immediately began casualty care whilst returning to Balmaha pier and after a short time the casualty was handed to the Scottish Ambulance Service for further care.

“LLRB then attended Inchcailloch Island to collect three other persons and return them to the mainland, all of whom were safe and well.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.55pm on Saturday, March 22, police received a call regarding a person in the water near to Balmaha.

“Around 12.35am on Sunday, March 23, Luss Rescue rescued a man from the water and took him to Balmaha Pier, where he was taken by ambulance to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley for observations.

“The man and three friends had been on Inchcailloch Island. The three men were assisted from the island to the pier at Balmaha.

“Advice and assistance given. No further police action.”