Two lives saved after casualties called for coastguard

Knowing what to do in an emergency really matters. Two lives were saved in two separate incidents last weekend on the Hebridean islands of Islay and Jura thanks to 999 calls from the casualties themselves.



On Friday evening (January 24) a woman, who had been walking her dog in a remote coastal area in Islay, called 999 at around 6.40pm and asked for the coastguard when she became disorientated in the bad weather. Coastguard rescue teams from Port Charlotte and Port Ellen, an RNLI lifeboat from Islay and a search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick were sent and within 90 minutes she was found safe and well, although cold and wet.

On Sunday (January 26) Jura coastguard rescue team made a long journey to a remote part of the island to come to the aid of a kayaker who had capsized and injured his foot, meaning he was unable to walk. He called 999 at 5.20pm and was able to provide information about his location that meant the team reached him within a couple of hours.

Coastal Operations Area Commander Dave Graham said: “Given the poor winter weather conditions, these two people would have been lucky to survive the night had they not been found swiftly. They both did exactly the right thing in calling 999 and asking for the coastguard. Don’t hesitate to call when the worst happens at the coast or at sea.” #999CoastguardMatters #SearchRescueSave #AllSafe

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