Off-duty volunteer rescues three people from water after boat capsizes

Three people were rescued from the water off the coast of Stranraer by an off-duty volunteer after a boat capsized and sank.

Volunteer crews from Stranraer RNLI were called by HM Coastguard at around 3.47pm on Saturday, August 1, to a sailing vessel that had capsized at Loch Ryan near Wig Bay.

Three people were stranded in the water before off-duty volunteer Keith Scott from Stonehaven RNLI, who witnessed the vessel capsize, immediately took action.

He got into a small boat and made his way to the casualties, successfully recovering all three from the water and bringing them safely back to shore.

His rapid response meant that all three casualties were out of the water and safely ashore by the time Stranraer RNLI arrived.

Members of the public ashore also played a vital role, quickly raising the alarm, bringing the incident to the attention of the emergency services, and providing assistance at the scene prior to their arrival.

Stranraer RNLI ILB crew immediately took over and provided casualty care, assessing and caring for the three casualties alongside HM Coastguard until the Scottish Ambulance Service arrived.

Once the casualties were safely in the hands of the ambulance service, Stranraer lifeboat launched to investigate the sunken sailing vessel.

Stranraer RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Antony Simpson said: “Keith’s actions made all the difference that day. He witnessed three people in the water and immediately put his RNLI training and experience into action.

“Without hesitation, he took a small boat across to them, recovered all three from the water and got them back safely ashore.

“By the time our crew arrived, Keith had already carried out the most critical part of the rescue…without his quick thinking and immediate intervention, this could have had a very different outcome.”