PICTURES: Stranded pilot whale rescue operation lands British Divers Marine Life Rescue award for Wester Ross man
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A WESTER Ross environmental campaigner who helped save 10 stranded pilot whales has been recognised for his lockdown efforts.
Noel Hawkins, well known for his role as environmental consultant to Ullapool Sea Savers, was recognised with one of 10 awards from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue to outstanding marine mammal medics.
A pod estimated at 18 had come into the shallows at Lochmaddy on South Uist during last year’s incident. He was able to travel to the scene and team up with tour operator David Steele and some local fish farm staff. The Covid restrictions at the time meant it was unlikely a trained medic from the mainland could make it.
They managed to refloat nine of them twice and relocate a lost member of the pod to unite it with the main group and then drive the 10 back out into deep waters where it is believed they all survived as no dead ones washed in following the event.
Normally, a major incident like this would have a number of trained medics in attendance so to have achieved this result was considered a great achievement by Mr Hawkins and the local volunteers.
Mr Hawkins had no prior knowledge of the award but was attending a group meeting of the Ullapool Sea Savers, a children’s marine charity he helps with, when they presented him with the award.
He said: “It’s a great personal honour to receive this, and I want to share that honour with the volunteers on Uist who managed so much without any training. Hopefully it’s an honour to all the Highland members of BDMLR too as they do a lot on a huge coastline and knowing our work gets noticed nationally is great.”
The USS said: “It’s not like we didn’t know he was brilliant anyway. We are incredibly proud to have been invited to present Noel with this award and beyond lucky to have him as our environmental consultant. Thank you for all you do supporting and inspiring us to save the seas!”
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