Fishing boat tragedy stuns community

Three sailors died after their fishing boat capsized at sea.

One man survived and was taken to hospital where his condition was described as not life-threatening.

A major search operation was launched when a member of the public saw the boat overturn off Ardnamurchan, on the west coast of Scotland, at around 5.10pm yesterday. The crew was believed to be British.

One man was initially pulled from the water by the crew of a yacht called Arran Comrade which responded to a mayday call issued by coastguards.

The survivor, who was not wearing a lifejacket, was then transferred into the Mallaig RNLI lifeboat and taken to hospital.

The lifeboat also recovered another man who was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

Another man was recovered by a Royal Navy helicopter while one was picked up by the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter.

Both were airlifted to Broadford Hospital on the Isle of Skye but were pronounced dead on arrival.

All four had been recovered by 8.20pm.

The boat, which was collecting scallops, overturned in the vicinity of Bo Fascadale, around a mile and a half north of Kilmory, Ardnamurchan on the west coast of Scotland.

The caller who spotted the incident said the vessel's upturned hull was visible among a sea of white waves towards the west of the island of Eigg.

Northern Constabulary said the deaths would be reported to the Procurator Fiscal. The dead sailors have not yet been named.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the incident.