Search called off for anglers

A search for two anglers still missing after their boat sank on a loch as they made their way back from a pub was stood down today.

William Carty, 47, and Craig Currie, 30, died on Loch Awe, Argyll, early yesterday.

Mr Carty's brother Steven, 42, and Thomas Douglas, 36, are still missing, presumed dead.

All the men were from north Glasgow.

The accident happened in the early hours of yesterday and police divers today continued to scour the deep waters of the loch.

They were assisted by International Rescue, based in Bo'ness near Falkirk, which provided two boats to help the efforts.

But no trace of the missing men was found and Strathclyde Police said the search was called off late today.

It will resume again tomorrow morning, a spokeswoman said.

The hunt for the group began yesterday after one member of their party who stayed behind at their campsite awoke to find his companions had not returned to their tents.

He realised his fellow anglers had not come back from the Tight Line pub on the opposite side of the loch and then heard desperate calls for help coming from the water and raised the alarm.

Emergency services were called out but their bid to find the four men was hindered by the thick fog around Loch Awe.

Visibility was down to just five metres, and when fire crews initially arrived at the scene they could hear the men shouting for help, but could not see them.

A desperate search to rescue the men was launched but at about 6.15am yesterday the bodies of Mr Carty and Mr Currie were recovered.

The men had all travelled to Loch Awe near Kilchurn Castle, Dalmally, in Argyll for a fishing trip.

They arrived on Friday evening and had set up camp on the bank of the water.

Strathclyde Police said the four men decided to take their small boat across the loch at about 11pm on Friday, while the fifth member of the group stayed on shore and went to sleep in his tent.

When the 38-year-old man woke at 3am he realised his companions had not made it back and then heard them calling for help from the loch.

Representatives from Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, the coastguard and Oban Mountain Rescue Teams were involved in the search.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "On arrival at the scene next to the A819 the fire crews could hear calls for assistance from the loch, unfortunately visibility was down to 5m and they could not see anyone.

"A helicopter was also sent by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency but was unable to locate the missing persons because of the poor visibility."

A rescue boat was also called out from Renfrew to assist.

Loch Awe is the longest freshwater loch in Scotland, measuring more than 25 miles from end to end, with an average width of just over half a mile.

It is popular with anglers, with trout, rainbow trout, pike, char, and perch among the fish which can be caught in its waters.

At the deserted campsite where the men had been staying their tents were still open, and cups of coffee and milk were found beside five folding chairs.

Fishing rods had also been left out and there was a green petrol canister with their belongings.

The owners of The Tight Line pub on the opposite side of the loch from the mens' campsite said the fishermen spent an hour there on Friday night.

The men, described as experienced anglers, came in at about 11.30pm before heading off again.

But the publicans said the group were not drunk when they left and were well equipped - instead suggesting the foggy, freezing weather conditions may have played a role in the accident.

Anna Price, 33, one of the owners, said: "It's just a tragedy."

She said the men were keen anglers, who came up to Loch Awe almost every other weekend.

"They were lovely guys, we never had a problem with them," she said. "They came in here every other weekend and they were regulars."