FAMILY RESCUED FROM CLIFFS AT CARSAIG

A family of four were rescued from the cliffs at Carsaig on the Isle of Mull this afternoon after the tide began coming in around them during a walk from Carsaig to Carsaig Arches.  The two adults and two 11-year-old children became stuck after trying to climb the cliffs to escape the incoming tide – with the woman having to climb back down the cliffs and go back to the nearest village to raise the alarm. 


Clyde Coastguard received the 999 call from her at 3.35pm and sent the rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet, coastguard teams from the Ross of Mull and Craignure, and the Oban RNLI lifeboat to assist.  Due to the remote location of the incident, the helicopter was going to take 55 minutes to reach the family, and the lifeboat one hour. 


At 4.13 pm, a kayaker contacted Clyde Coastguard to report that he had just assisted in the recovery of the three people back to the shore, and that the family were now continuing along the coastal path and did not require any further assistance.  However, with the coastguard rescue team and helicopter just minutes away Clyde Coastguard did not stand down the rescue resources, fearing that the four would continue on their original journey and eventually get cut off by the tide. 


Upon reaching the group, R177 lowered the winchman down onto the beach, where the family informed him that they intended to walk on to Carsaig Arches – a mile and a half from their location.  The winchman strongly advised the four that they ought to head back to Carsaig to avoid being cut off by the tide for a second time and the coastguard rescue team met up with them and accompanied them back to their vehicle. 


Clyde Coastguard would advise that anyone intending to walk along coastal routes ensure they are suitably dressed with appropriate footwear, have adequate means of raising an alarm in an emergency and also check tide times before heading out.

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