Sent in by John Kinsman, station manager at Coastwatch St Monans, East Fife. Featured image shows Kinghorn lifeboat in the callout to a capsizing dinghy.
Fisherman dies
A fisherman died off the east coast of Scotland. The 64 year old was reported missing after an empty creel boat was found a mile north east of Torness near Dunbar in the Firth of Forth. A major search was launched involving a coastguard search and rescue helicopter two lifeboats from Dunbar and St Abbs and local fishing vessels.
A coastguard spokesman said the helicopter crew winched the fisherman from the water and tried to resuscitate him as they flew him to hospital. A police spokesman said they were called to a report of a man having fallen from a fishing vessel. Near Torness.
“Emergency services attended and a 64 year old man was recovered from the sea. He was flown to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead,” the spokesman said. “There are not believe to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal,” he added.
The Dunbar all weather lifeboat crew recovered the creel boat and tower it into the town’s harbour. A Dunbar lifeboat spokesman thanked the fishing vessels who helped with the search operation.
Eight rescued after dingy sinks
A crew from Kinghorn lifeboat were called out to rescue eight people from a capsized dinghy in the Firth of Forth on Sunday May 9th. Two adults and five children were in the water by the time the lifesaver arrived, with the craft capsizing around 1pm off Port Seton in the Forth. An eighth person was said to have been making their way to shore using three SUP paddleboards.
The volunteer lifeboat crew were called at 3.20pm following a 999 call to Aberdeen coastguards reporting a small sailing dinghy and paddle boards in trouble.
Kinghorn RNLI said, “While approaching the scene, it was advised that the dinghy had capsized and seven occupants were in the water. We were soon alongside and pulled everyone on board the lifeboat. An eighth person was making their to Port Seton with three paddle boarders but were making slow progress so they were also recovered to the lifeboat.
On arrival it became apparent that the dinghy had offered assistance to the paddle boarders and then capsized a short time later. All casualties were taken to Port Seton where two ambulances arrived to check everyone out along with two coastguard teams. The lifeboat crew then returned the dinghy and paddle boarders to shore once all casualties were safe.
One local resident congratulated the team saying, “It could have been a different outcome if it was not for you guys, well done.”
Radioactivity at Beach
The public have been assured that a Fife beach contaminated with radioactive debris will be completely safe by 2023. It is now more than three decades since radioactive particles were first found near Dalgety Bay sailing club.
After years of wrangling the MOD has named as the polluter by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in 2013. Dr Paul Dale, Sepa radioactive substances specialist said the long awaited £10.5million project would make the beach safe to use again.
More news on this in next issue of Voice for Arran.
Drifting vessel
A Fife lifeboat crew were called out following reports of a small boat drifting in the Firth of Forth. The volunteer crew were called out at 7.25am to search for a boat drifting off Fisherrow harbour in East Lothian.
With the help of Fisherrow Coastguards and North Berwick Coastguards the lifeboat crew were directed to the vessel was found to be a small yacht tender from the nearby harbour. With no signs there had been anyone on board, the lifeboat crew secured the vessel before returning it back to the tender park.
Coastwatch St Monans
Coastwatch St Monans have taken delivery of a new mode of transport to help make it a little faster to attend incidents and carry out patrols along the narrow coastal paths between Pittenweem and Lower Largo the 12 mile stretch of coastline covered by the St Monans team. The new mode of transport is an electric scooter which was donated to the team .The scooter which can reach 23km will help one member of the team to reach any incident faster than on foot.
Also the Coastwatch St Monans have new sponsors for their volunteer station The Chip Ahoy. Based in Elie the company has agreed to be the station’s new sponsors. Coastwatch St Monans operations manager John kinsman said the new scooter will be a great asset to the team and thanks the donator and Chip Ahoy.
Dog reunited
At 11.24am on Friday May 14th Coastwatch St Monans team were paged to an incident involving a dog that had escaped from its owner’s garden and was running around Elie harbour area and concern was raised for its safety in case it entered the water.
Coastwatch St Monans volunteers made their way to Elie from their base in St Monans and commenced a search for the eight week old Spaniel puppy.
After a short search of the area team member Karen located the puppy and took care of it until it was reunited with it grateful owner.
