One man and his dog rescued by Kirkwall Lifeboat
(Picture: Graham Campbell)
A grounded creel boat sparked a rescue alert off Westray yesterday afternoon.
Kirkwall Lifeboat and a Shetland based Coastguard helicopter, which was already in the air, headed to the small fishing vessel, Faithful B, which had one man and his dog onboard. The Coastguard Rescue Team on Westray were also on scene.
The lifeboat with coxswain Dupre Strutt and 6 volunteer crew aboard left Kirkwall at 4.25pm and arrived on the scene, close to the entrance to Pierowall harbour, an hour later.
Meanwhile, Shetland Coastguard had tasked the helicopter to the vessel, and a winchman was put onboard to check the situation with the fisherman.
On arrival the lifeboat crew launched their inflatable Y-boat and used it to assist as the creel boat was refloated with the rising tide at 5.50pm. The Y-boat escorted the boat back to Pierowall, arriving at 6pm.
This was the seventh launch for Kirkwall Lifeboat this year.