Salmon farm workers in bid to save tragic scallop diver
Workers from a Scottish Sea Farms site were involved in an attempt to save a diver who died after getting into difficulty in Loch Eriboll on Tuesday afternoon.
The 35-year-old is believed to have been scallop diving, according to a report in the Press & Journal.
Johnny Morrison, SSF’s farm manager for Loch Eriboll, said: “Our farm team was alerted by the local coastguard to a mayday call from Loch Eriboll, received mid-afternoon, and immediately set off in different directions to try to locate the casualty.
Trained first aiders
“One of our workboats soon spotted a beached diving boat and two men on a stretch of shoreline, one performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on the other.
“Our farm staff are all trained first aiders so fish husbandry person Christopher Mackay took over CPR while Andrew Morrison, senior fish husbandry person, comforted the second man until the coastguard and rescue helicopter could arrive at the scene. The remainder of the farm team were on standby in their vessels.
“Heartbreakingly, despite further treatment and everyone’s best efforts, the man was unable to be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Sympathies and condolences’
“On behalf of the Loch Eriboll farm team and all at Scottish Sea Farms, we would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life so tragically. Our thoughts are with them.”
The Press & Journal said a police spokeswoman confirmed the man’s death “is being treated as unexplained pending the result of a post mortem”.
His death is not thought to be suspicious.
Emergency teams were first alerted to the incident around 1.20pm on Tuesday. Coastguard teams from Melness, Durness and Kinlochbervie attended the scene alongside the Stornoway search and rescue helicopter, police and paramedics.
