December 30th
Mull -- Medevac
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald, launched at 21.58 last night to assist in the evacuation of a patient from Craignure, Isle of Mull.
The lifeboat arrived at Craignure at 2228 and departed six minutes later arriving in Oban at 23.05. The female patient was transferred to Lorn & the Isles District General Hospital and the lifeboat was re-fuelled and ready for service at 2321. This service was the seventeenth medevac from Craignure in 2010.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 2015.
December 23rd
Second Mull Medevac in the space of 24 hours
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, was launched at 1811 on Thursday evening, 23 December to evacuate a male patient from the Isle of Mull to hospital in Oban. The patient was taken aboard the lifeboat at Craignure at 1924 and, on arrival in Oban at 1955, was transferred to Lorn and the Islands Hospital by ambulance.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 2015.
December 22nd
Mull -- Medevac
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald, launched at 2333 last night to assist in the evacuation of a patient from Craignure, Isle of Mull.
The lifeboat arrived at Craignure at ten minutes past midnight and departed Craignure at 0028 arriving in Oban at 0100. The male patient was transferred to Lorn & the Isles District General Hospital and the lifeboat was re-fuelled and ready for service at 0122. Coxswain Ronnie MacKillop described the conditions as “Baltic”
December 10th
Oban Lifeboat attends 30 foot Crabber with a fouled propellor.
Oban Lifeboat, “Mora Edith MacDonald”, launched on Friday evening at 1846 to assist the 30 ft. Crab-fishing boat “Jean Francis” almost aground off St. Columba’s Cathedral in Oban Bay with a fouled propellor. Within a few minutes the lifeboat was on scene and deployed her own inflatable dinghy manned by two lifeboat crew who succeeded in clearing the rope/net from the propellor. The crabber was then taken in to the North Pier slip by the lifeboat where members of the lifeboat crew along with members of the Coastguard shore team assisted the single-handed skipper of the casualty to secure the vessel.
The lifeboat returned to her berth at 1947 and was refuelled and ready for service again at 2003.
December 6th
Mull Medevac
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald, was called out at 2021 last night to assist in the evacuation of a patient from Craignure, Isle of Mull.
The crew were paged at 2021 and launched at 2030 arriving at Craignure at 2105. Due to the ambulance being delayed the lifeboat did not depart Craignure until 2220 arriving in Oban at 2300. The male patient was transferred to Lorn & the Isles District General Hospital and the lifeboat was re-fuelled and ready for service at 2315
November 7th
Two boats aground on the Isle of Lismore
At 15.04 today, Clyde Coast Guard requested the launch of Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat, “Mora Edith Macdonald” following reports that two boats were aground on the north east shore of Lismore. When the Lifeboat arrived at the scene, the fishing vessel “Jean Francis”,was standing by. Both boats were unable to refloat or to restart their engines, which had been affected by weed. Crew from the Lifeboat managed to assist in the re-launch and both boats were eventually able to return under their own steam to Achnacroish on Lismore. The Lifeboat returned to its berth at 17.15 and was refueled and ready again for service at 17.38
This was the 50th service carried out by Oban Lifeboat this year.
November 4th
Medevac - Isle of Mull
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat, “Mora Edith Macdonald” launched at 18.05 this evening to transfer a lady with chest pains from Craignure Pier on Mull to the mainland. Two para-medics from Oban accompanied the boat which arrived back at its berth at 19.20. The Lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 19.35
November 3rd
Medevac - Isle of Mull
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat, “Mora Edith Macdonald” launched at 19.22 this evening to transfer an expectant mother from Craignure Pier on Mull to the mainland. A midwife from Mull accompanied the boat which arrived back in Oban at 20.30. An ambulance met the Lifeboat and the patient was transferred to Lorn & the Islands Hospital in Oban.
October 29th
Medevac - Isle of Mull
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat, “Mora Edith Macdonald” launched at midnight to transfer a patient from Craignure Pier on Mull to the mainland. Two paramedics from Oban accompanied the boat which arrived back in Oban at 1.30 am.
The lifeboat was ready for service again at 01.50 hours.
October 19th
The dog that rescued itself
The dog that rescued itself
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald, was called out at 2057 in response to a report of a man in the water near Fort William. It transpired that his dog had taken to the water and the owner, fearing for the safety of the animal, launched a kayak and managed to rescue the dog only to have the kayak capsize. Fortunately the owner was wearing a lifejacket and, after one and a half hours in the water, he managed to reach the shore from where he was rushed to hospital suffering from hypothermia. The dog reached the shore unaided. On hearing that the man was rescued the Lifeboat returned to station and was re-fuelled and ready for service at 2156
October 9th
Mobile phone saves Catamaran sailor
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat launched at 1722 hours on Saturday evening to the assistance of a young man who had been single-handedly sailing his 15-foot
catamaran “Shazam” between Oban and the island of Lismore. When she capsized he was unable to right the vessel in the fresh breeze and lumpy sea and, after he had been in the water for some 40 minutes, used his mobile phone to call the Coastguard – surprisingly perhaps the telephone still able to
operate.
When the lifeboat arrived on scene the local Calmac Oban/Lismore ferry “Eigg”
had launched her daughter-boat whose crew helped the sailor to right the catamaran. The young man declined the lifeboat’s offer to have him checked over by the doctor on board and set off for Dunstaffnage Marina on the mainland. With darkness not far away and a long beat ahead, however, the
lifeboat coxswain persuaded him to accept a tow to Dunstaffnage where he was cast off at the pontoons at 1817.
The lifeboat returned to her berth and was refuelled and ready for service again
at 1841 hours.
October 10th
Abortive service by Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat
Four divers operating from the shore in the area of Ballachulish Bridge at the mouth of Loch Leven were today swept seawards by the strong ebb tide and their plight was reported by someone on the bridge.
Oban Lifeboat was launched at 1134 but, before reaching the scene, was stood down, the divers having made their way ashore. A Search and Rescue helicopter in the area at the time landed nearby and had their Paramedic check that the divers required no further assistance.
The lifeboat returned to station and was refuelled and ready for service again at 1321 hours.
October 3rd
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat launched to aid of dive-boat
Oban lifeboat, the “Mora Edith Macdonald”, launched on Sunday at 1145 a.m.
to the assistance of a dive-boat with 6 or 7 divers aboard and which had suffered engine failure near Bach Island off the South West corner of the island of Kerrera.
The lifeboat took the drifting boat in tow and returned her to Puffin Dive in the Sound of Kerrera from where she had set out.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again by 12.50 p.m.
September 30th
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat assists Creel boat in the
Sound of Kerrera
The 8-metre creel boat “Condor” with one person on board was entering the Sound of Kerrera early this afternoon when she became disabled as a net or rope fouled her propellor. She was then driven ashore on the mainland side
sustaining damage to her hull allowing a substantial ingress of water.
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat launched to her aid at 1330 hours, reaching the scene only minutes later when Deputy Coxswain Alasdair Maclean deployed the lifeboat’s dinghy to put crew members Donald (DM) Matheson and Richard Wilinski aboard the casualty. Together with the boat’s skipper they cut a hole in the deck to gain access to the damaged hull and, using a deflated lifeboat fender, filled the hole in the hull before inflating the fender which was sufficient
to stem the ingress of water and allow the boat’s own pump to cope.
This arrangement kept the creel boat afloat until the lifeboat returned to the scene at 1851 when she gently pulled the “Condor” off the rock at 1957, then
escorted her to the marina at Ardentrive, Kerrera.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 2125 hours.
September 19th
R.N.L.I. lifeboat on Medevac
Oban lifeboat last night conveyed a 76-year old male suffering from pneumonia to Lorn & the Islands Hospital in Oban from the Island of Mull.
The patient was picked up from an ambulance at Craignure Ferry terminal and by another ambulance waiting at the lifeboat slip in Oban for transfer to hospital. The
lifeboat launched at 2135 hours and was re-fuelled and ready for service again by
2315 hours.
September 12th
Yacht aground
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat launched at 0942 on Sunday morning to the assistance of
a yacht aground at the mouth of Loch Melfort with four persons aboard.
The yacht, Bon Jovi of Clyde, had left Craobh Haven for Cuan Sound when she struck and remained fast on one of a group of rocks known as Eich Donna. When the lifeboat reached the scene, all four crew of the yacht had been taken off by a local craft back to Craobh Haven. An attempt to refloat the casualty will be made around High Water on Sunday evening.
September 4th
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat tows in 30 ft. Motor Cruiser
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, was launched at 1256 this afternoon to the assistance of the yacht Lizzie May, with four persons aboard,
aground on the reef known as Liath Sgeir off the South West corner of the island of Lismore in the Firth of Lorne. A work boat from the nearby fish farm, however, refloated the casualty just before the lifeboat reached the reef
and just as she was asked to assist another vessel in difficulty in the same area.
The 30 ft. motor-cruiser Charlie Leigh also with four persons aboard had anchored in haste off the South East corner of Lismore when her engine failed and, being on a lee shore in the fresh South-easterly wind, was in danger of
being driven ashore. The lifeboat took her in tow and laid her alongside in
Oban Marina on the island of Kerrera at 1414.
The Mora Edith Macdonald was refuelled and ready for service again at 1440.
September 1st
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat on short Medevac
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat, “Mora Edith MacDonald”, launched at 22.48 on Tuesday
31 August to make the short run across Oban Bay to the marina on the Isle of Kerrera. There she picked up a lady from the yacht “Fred J Noonan” who required hospitalisation and took her to a waiting ambulance at the lifeboat berth,
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 23.45
August 10th
Oban Lifeboat launched for emergency beacon
Oban Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald, was called out at twenty past midnight last night in response to an EPIRB “hit”
The EPIRB, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, was swiftly traced by the lifeboat’s direction finding equipment to an un-attended 45’ ketch on a mooring at Oban Marina. The crew, accompanied by a police officer, cut the padlock to gain access to the vessel and found the offending beacon in a locker in the forward cabin. It proved impossible to switch off the device due to a faulty switch and the crew were forced to dismantle the unit in order to disconnect the battery. The lifeboat was re-fuelled and ready for service at two minutes to one in the morning.
In the case of 406 MHz beacons which transmit digital signals, the beacons can be uniquely identified almost instantly and furthermore, a GPS or GLONASS position can be encoded into the signal, which provides instantaneous identification of the registered user and its location. Frequently, by using the initial position provided via the satellite system, SAR aircraft and ground search parties can home in on the distress signals from the beacons and come to the aid of the concerned boat, aircraft, or people.
July 29th
Second “short shout” today for Oban Lifeboat
Oban Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald, was called out to the sound of Kerrera for the second time today at 1600 when the yacht “Upstart” ran aground on Ferry Rocks. Deputy coxswain David Isaac was transferred to the stricken yacht by Oban Lifeboat Station’s Sea Safety Officer, Ian Wilson, who happened to be in the vicinity. There being no apparent damage to hull or rudder the yacht, with two adults and two children aboard, was allowed to float off on the rising tide and made her way, under her own power, to Oban Marina. Oban Lifeboat was re-fuelled and ready for service at 1648
July 21st
Short “shout” for Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat
Just before 9 o’clock this morning the Nauticat 36 ketch “Margarita”, with two persons aboard, experienced an overheating engine in calm conditions in the Sound of Kerrera. Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat, “Mora Edith Macdonald”, launched at 0901 hours and within 11 minutes was with the casualty just off Cutter Rock. The lifeboat took the vessel in tow to Oban Marina, Ardentrive, Kerrera where she was laid alongside for attention.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 1011 hours
July 21st
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat assists workboat.
“Mora Edith Macdonald” launched on Tuesday evening to the aid of the 30’
workboat “JIE II” adrift off Ardencaple, South-west of Easdale with engine failure and two persons aboard.
The lifeboat took the casualty in tow at 22.19 hours and laid her alongside in
Oban Marina, Kerrera at 23.16 hours, the lifeboat herself being refuelled and ready for service again at 2350 hours.
July 20th
Two false alarms for Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat on Monday evening steamed a total of 96 miles on two separate “shouts” neither of which came to anything.
The “Mora Edith Macdonald” launched at 1747 hours following the word “Mayday” being heard in a calm, male voice – no other message followed and the word was not repeated. The lifeboat searched the Sound of Kerrera, Loch Spelve, the Craignure area and the shores of Lismore before returning to Oban where she was refuelled and ready for service again at 2025 hours.
Three hours later she launched at 2329 hours in response to reports of two red flares seen to the south of the Ross of Mull in the Carsaig area. After searching the area thoroughly and finding nothing, the lifeboat was stood down at 0125 hours when she returned to station and was refuelled and ready for service again at 0306 hours.
July 15th
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat on 8 hour service
Two adults and four children on board a chartered Dufour yacht required the assistance of Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat last night when she struck a rock in the entrance to the popular anchorage, Tinker’s Hole, by the island of Erraid on South West Mull. The yacht, “Shadowfax”, damaged her rudder but was able to struggle into the anchorage.
The lifeboat left Oban at 1845 hours reaching Tinker’s Hole at 2025 hours where she found some 6 other boats anchored making it impossible to take the casualty alongside. “Shadowfax”, using her minimal steering ability was able to motor out to meet the lifeboat, however, and a tow was set up, a lifeboat crew-member joining the parents while the 4 children were transferred to the lifeboat.
After a slow tow at about 5 knots in a nasty 5 foot sea, the yacht was placed alongside a pontoon at Dungallan, Oban at 0225 hours.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 0300 hours.
July 11th
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat launched to Divers in trouble
Oban R.N.L.I. lifeboat launched this morning at 1100 hours to assist two divers who had been diving on the wreck of the “Shuna” in the Sound of Mull at a depth of about 26 metres. They were taken aboard their “mother” ship, the “Peregrine” with suspected de-compression sickness and transferred to the lifeboat in the lee of Lismore Light, the wind being strong Westerly.
Dr Colin Wilson, a member of the lifeboat crew, is also trained in Diving Medicine and, in his care, they were taken directly to the re-compression chamber at Dunstaffnage where one, a lady, was put into the chamber while her companion, a man, was taken to Lorn & the Isles Hospital in Oban for observation.
The lifeboat was re-fuelled and ready for service again by 1300 hours.
July 5th
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat launched to injured yachtsman
The 49’ yacht “Orca” was entering the Firth of Lorne from the Sound of Mull this afternoon when a 71 year-old man on board was swept against a guard-rail stanchion by the main-sheet, severely injuring his back. Oban lifeboat was launched to assist at 1414 hours with crew member Dr Colin Wilson aboard. On reaching the yacht which by now had picked up a mooring in a small bay on the Morvern shore just south of Inversanda, Dr Wilson examined the man still lying on the side deck of the yacht unable to move and in great pain.
The Doctor was of the opinion that a Search & Rescue helicopter from Prestwick which was on exercise in the area at the time should be requested to pick up the casualty in order to avoid the movement which the sea journey to Oban would entail with greater risk to the patient. The helicopter lowered her stretcher to the lifeboat, the casualty was strapped in to it , given a pain-killing drug and flown to Lorn & The Islands Hospital in Oban where he landed at 1542 hours.
Oban lifeboat was re-fuelled and ready for service again at 1630 hours.
July 4th
Red Flares - False Alarm
Oban Lifeboat on fourth shout in 39 hours.
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat, “Mora Edith Macdonald”, launched at 0051 hours this morning for the fourth time since Friday afternoon to investigate a report from the Ocean Youth Trust’s “Alba Endeavour” that she had observed a Red flare in the area of Grass Point, Mull, the Dubh Sgeir Rock and the West side of Kerrera.
By 0224 hours this area had been searched to no avail and a further search of the mouth of Loch Spelve was carried out, again with nothing found.
The Lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 0415 hours.
By 0600 hours the same crew were at sea again – only, this time, just across the bay to Oban Marina and accompanied by 2 Paramedics in order to bring to hospital in Oban, a gentleman who had fallen ill on a yacht berthed there.
It is hoped that this might bring to an end the exceptionally busy week-end which saw the lifeboat launch four times - to a Pregevac, to a Canoeist, to investigate a report of Red flares and to a Medevac !
July 3rd
Canoeists need help
Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat, “Mora Edith Macdonald”, was launched this afternoon at 1521 hours to the aid of a canoeist in the Firth of Lorne after he capsized and was unable to re-board the kayak. When the lifeboat reached the scene the canoeist had been taken aboard the nearby Fish farm workboat but was cold and, of course, very wet.
He and his kayak were transferred to the lifeboat where crew member,
Dr. Colin Wilson looked after him on the short fast trip back to the lifeboat berth at Oban where he recovered fairly quickly.
The lifeboat was ready for service again by 1600 hours.
July 2nd
Medivac
Oban Lifeboat in a slightly unusual Medivac.
A young lady from the Isle of Mull was today taken on board the Car Ferry , “Isle of Mull” and in labour. The ferry, however, suffered temporary mechanical problems and was unable to leave Craignure for Oban.
The pregnant Mum was then returned to shore from where Oban R.N.L.I. Lifeboat, with two midwives aboard, whisked her to hospital in Oban.
June 29th
Yacht aground
Tasked to assist the yacht Moonstone after she contacted the coastguard to request assistance
after running aground. Once on scene the Moonstone was found to be hard aground. The XP boat was
launched and the skipper’s wife requested to leave the yacht and come aboard the lifeboat. The XP
boat then spent some time surveying the area around the yacht to locate the deepest water to which
we could refloat the yacht on the flood tide. Due to the very strong tidal streams in this
location I decided to remain on scene until the yacht was refloated.
At1645 the yacht was pulled off the rock by the lifeboat into deep water and an inspection
revealed no serious ingress of water. The yacht had steering and power and the skipper was happy
to proceed back to Oban. At this time his wife was returned to Moonstone and the lifeboat left
scene.
June 13th
Yacht aground
Tasked by Clyde Coast Guard to assist the yacht Tarka which had run aground. Once on scene it was clear
that the Tarka was hard aground and nothing could be done until the flood tide. The Lifeboat
remained on scene until low water in case the hull became holed as she sat down onto her bilge.
Once the yacht was stable and the tide was at it's lowest height the Lifeboat departed briefly to
nearby Craobh Haven Marina, to allow the crew to use the facilities and have some food. We
departed the Tarka for Craobh Haven at 1330 and were back on scene at 1420.
On return to scene the XP boat was launched and we were able to ascertain the best means to assist
the yacht back into deep water on the flood tide. The Tarka was pulled off the rock into deep
water at 1502 and the crew made checks to confirm there was no water ingress before the Lifeboat
left scene at 15.10.
The Tarka proceeded to Craobh Haven Marina under her own power where the owners intended to have
her lifted out and inspected.
June 4th
Emergency in Oban Bay
Tasked to assist the police and ambulance service recover a man who had attempted suicide by
hanging himself onboard a fishing vessel at the railway pier in Oban.
The man had been hanging over the back of the boat up to his waist in water, and remained
there for approx 45 minutes before a member of the puplic heard his calls for help.
The police and ambulance service attended and asked for the Lifeboat assistance as the man was
unable to walk and the only means ashore was by a ladder.
Once on scene the casualty was assisted onboard the lifeboat and then conveyed to our berth where
he was landed to the ambulance and then taken to Oban hospital.
June 3rd
Medical Emergency - Kerrera
Tasked to convey two ambulance service crew to the Island of Kerrera and then recover casualty
after a request from a doctor on the island requesting assistance. A 52 year old man had gone over
the handlebars of his bike and appeared to be seriously hurt.
Islanders were able to gain the assistance of a local doctor who was working on her boat in the
nearby marina and she requested the assistance of the ambulance service and the lifeboat.
The casualty was some distance inland from the marina where the lifeboat was able to berth and
there was some thought given to moving the casualty over that distance. Fortunately one of the
Lifeboat crew (Robbie Glenn) lives on the island and he offered the use of a quad bike to recover
the man;this worked very well.
The casualty was conveyed to Oban and then taken to Oban Hospital where he underwent emergency
surgery for a ruptured spleen.
May 18th
Medical Emergency
The Coastguard alerted the LOM after activating LA pagers, that a male had collapsed onboard a charter angling vessel south of Oban. I attempted to contact LMA, however he was unavailable. I
then contacted the local ambulance service, unfortunately there was nobody available to assist and
at this point made the decision to sail as soon as I had a crew. The crew pagers were not
activated by the coastguard as agreed with the LOM until 6 minutes after their initial request, by
which time all three of my deputy Coxswains had arrived and to prevent further delay I sailed with
five crew.
Shortly after departure the coastguard informed us that the man did not appear to be breathing and
his friends could not find a pulse. They requested that we make best speed. Once on scene we made
a quick assessment and the lifeboat crew started one round of CPR before moving the casualty to
the stretcher and then to the afterdeck of the lifeboat. The crew continued CPR until the lifeboat
was alongside and the ambulance service took over.
I think it is worth noting that the LMA contacted me later in the day to tell me that he had
spoken with the consultant who attended the patient in the A & E at Oban hospital. He informed him
that the man had not survived, however he was very impressed with the quality of CPR the man had
received by the Lifeboat crew, stating that he was very well oxygenated. There is no doubt that
the crew were helped by the fact we had only two weeks before had refresher CPR training from the
local heart start nurses as the last session of our winter training programme.
April 17th
Medivac - Mull
Tasked to convey a 32 week pregnant patient with a serious kidney infection from the Island of
Mull to Oban. The woman was taken briefly to Oban hospital before being conveyed to Glasgow by
road ambulance.
April 16th
Power Boat - Tow
Tasked by Coast Guard after they received numerous 999 calls reporting a small power boat which appeared to
be signalling for help in the approaches to Oban Bay. Prior to our arrival on scene the local
fishing vessel Natalie Rose passed a tow to the Great White and pulled her clear of the rocks.
However, the skipper of the Natalie Rose was alone and requested we take over the tow. We took the
vessel in tow astern and put her safely alongside pontoons at Oban Marina. The owner of the Great
White informed us that he had only purchased the vessel two hours before we were called to his
assistance.
April 15th
Medivac - Mull
Tasked to convey a man with abdominal injury from the Island of Mull to Oban, as the air
ambulance was unable to carry out the service due to volcanic cloud. Paramedic made the passage to
care for the patient who was in severe pain.
April 1st
Fishing Boat in difficulty (continued)
This was the return visit to the fishing vessel Laurel, which we had left aground earlier in the
night. Once back on scene the mate and one crewman were put back aboard the Laurel, directly from
the Lifeboats starboard shoulder. The crew then carried out checks on the vessel and prepared her
to receive a towline from the Lifeboat. We stood by until the flood tide had brought the vessel
close to upright and at that point passed the towline. We then came slowly astern until the tide
allowed the Laurel to slip back into deep water. The crew had managed to restart her engine and
the lifeboat escorted them safely into the bay, where the remaining three crew were returned to
her. Once the Laurel was safely alongside the lifeboat returned to her moorings.
March 31st
Fishing Boat in difficulty
Clyde CG were contacted by the fishing vessel Laurel informing them that they had run aground in
the approaches to Oban Bay after suffering machinery failure. The crew had abandoned the vessel
to the liferaft and then blown ashore. Once on scene the Lifeboat deployed the XP boat with two
crew to recover the fishermen to the Lifeboat. Once all the fishermen were aboard the lifeboat I
explained that the tide was still ebbing until 0200 and that there was nothing more we could do
until the flood tide refloated the vessel. I decided that the best approach was to return to the
Lifeboat station to allow the fishermen who were very cold to warm up. Once ashore I requested
the crew return at 0330, when we would return to the vessel and prepare to pull her off the shore
on the flooding tide.
March 28th
Recovery of a body in Oban Bay
3rd Mechanic Peter MacKinnon was walking to the lifeboat berth to prepare for an exercise later in
the day and noticed a body in the water close to the lifeboat. He managed to get a rope around the
body to prevent it being lost and then he raised the alarm. The crew were assembled and tasked
with recovering the body. The XP boat was launched from the Lifeboat with two crew onboard and
they recovered the body to the Lifeboat slipway, where it was put into the basket stretcher. The
body was confirmed to be deceased and the police requested the body be stored in our fuel store
until a photographer arrived as part of their investigation. The body was eventually removed at
1600. It is thought the man was one of the crew from a fishing vessel moored alongside the pier,
who had fallen overboard during the night.
March 25th
Pregivac - Mull
Tasked to convey a woman in labour from the Island of Mull to Oban. Two Oban ambulance service
crew sailed with the lifeboat to care for the woman.
February 25th
Multiple Medivac from Mull in poor conditions.
Clyde CG was contacted by Scottish Ambulance Service requesting Oban Lifeboat assist in the
evacuation of four patients from the Island of Mull. Weather conditions were poor and the
passenger ship had made two attempts to berth during the day and failed to get alongside.
The GP on the island had four patients who he deemed could not wait until the weather improved and
insisted that the ambulance service evacuate them to the mainland. The air ambulance was unable
to fly due to the weather conditions and the military were unable to assist, so the Lifeboat was
asked to carry out the evacuation.
Oban Lifeboat launched with off duty paramedic Kevin Devine onboard to facilitate patient care.
Prior to launching I asked the crew to gather as many extra fenders from our store as I was
anticipating poor conditions at the berth on Mull.
Once on scene I made a pass of the ferry berth where we normally come alongside to ascertain what
the sea state was like, and decided that it did not look very good. I then went to look at the
old pier, which I would not normally consider using. The old pier is a solid stone structure and
if I could get behind it we would be in the lee, affording us some shelter. The main problem with
this pier is the lack of water, however it was two hours after high water and I felt there would
be enough depth there for us to get alongside.
The crew quickly changed our mooring ropes from the normal arrangement we use at the ferry berth
and then we made an approach to the old pier. We got alongside and made fast, with only 0.1m
reading on the echo sounder. Unfortunately it is some distance from the road where the ambulance
could park to the pier. Three of the patients had to be carried in ambulance chairs to the
lifeboat, which took some time.
Once all four patients were onboard, the lifeboat left the berth, leaving our mooring ropes behind
to allow a speedy departure, as the bowlines were very tight. The patients were then conveyed to
waiting ambulances in Oban where they were then taken to Oban Hospital. Our mooring lines were
returned the following day.
February 18th
Kayak - Search and Rescue
Clyde CG were contacted via 999 call from two men who were unsure of their position in an
inflatable kayak. The men had set off in the morning from Loch Crearen with plans to kayak to a
Castle northeast of the launch site. The men made an error leaving the loch and realized they
were unsure of their position. There were heavy snow showers and visibility was poor at times.
The men realized that darkness was coming and that they needed assistance. The Coastguard advised
us that they thought the men were at the south end of the island of Lismore. We proceeded to that
area and quickly located the men. They were taken aboard the lifeboat along with their inflatable
boat and conveyed to the lifeboat station where they were collected by family members.
February 16th
Medivac
Tasked to convey a patient from the Island of Mull to Oban for Scottish ambulance service. The
air ambulance was unable to fly due to poor weather and the military helicopter was already tasked
elsewhere. The woman was suffering from a pneumothorax and had history of lung problems. The patient was transferred to Oban Hospital.
February 14th
Missing Male
Tasked to assist the Oban Police in a search for a male whom they were concerned about. The man
had been seen by members of the public walking towards a beach near Oban handing out his personal
possessions and telling people not to worry about him. The police initiated a major search and the
man was located on a farm near Oban. The Lifeboat was stood down at this time.
February 7th
Pregivac
Tasked to convey a woman in Labour from the Island of Mull to Oban. The Lifeboat conveyed two
ambulance service crew to the island and the midwife left the Island with the patient.
January 16th
Overdue RIB
The coastguard received a report of an overdue RIB, which had left Oban bound for the Island of
Kerrera with one person onboard. The lifeboat carried out an initial search of the entrance to
Oban Bay and downwind for some distance. The RIB was not located and the coxswain decided to
enter a parallel search pattern. Conditions were very poor and some time had elapsed, so the
Coxswain suggested helicopter assistance might be prudent. Some fifteen minutes later the
lifeboat located the casualty. The occupant was found to be cold but otherwise in good health. He
was taken aboard the Lifeboat and the RIB was towed to a safe mooring in Oban.
image courtesy of D. MacLeod (The Scotsman)
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