Invergordon RNLI to the rescue as swimmers caught out by tide end up stranded on Cromarty Firth oil rig
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A RESCUE mission involving Ross-shire lifeboat crew and a search and rescue helicopter was launched after two swimmers were left stranded on an oil rig in the Cromarty Firth.
The two males grabbed hold of an anchor chain of the semi-submersible Well Safe Guardian after getting into difficulties with the ebbing tidal current in the early evening drama.
Invergordon RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew didn't have far to travel after being scrambled by Aberdeen’s HM Coastguard on Friday at 6.02pm.
The swimmers had set out from the public slipway on the town’s Shore Road for an open swimming session in the firth, accompanied by a friend in a kayak for safety.
They became caught up in the strong ebbing tidal current and soon found themselves in difficulty, with the moored Well Safe Guardian fast approaching.
After grabbing the anchor chain, they were quickly spotted by crew of the rig who raised the alarm. They scrambled up the chain, as the kayak made its way up the firth with the outgoing tide.
The Trent class lifeboat Douglas Aikman Smith was quickly on scene and with Inverness HM search and rescue helicopter Rescue151 also on route, the decision was made to launch the all-weather lifeboat’s daughter XP craft to navigate into the location and extract the males to safety and bring back on board the lifeboat for the quick trip back to Invergordon West Harbour.
Once on board the lifeboat crew medically assessed the friends. Though cold no medical issues were reported.
Meanwhile, Rescue 151 had pinpointed the kayak further up the firth and marked it for the crew to recover once the two casualties were safe ashore. The lifeboat located and recovered the kayak to be reunited with the owner.
The lifeboat was made ready for service by 8:30pm, abiding by all Covid-19 precautions as outlined by the RNLI.
Michael MacDonald, RNLI volunteer press officer and crew member said: ‘"The call-out shows the importance as the summer season continues of prior planning, in respect of weather conditions, tide and means to communicate if difficulty occurs, and keep it within reach. Both Respect The Water and Float to Live key messages were passed over to the two individuals for any future trips."
