Two shellfish divers dead - Outer Hebrides,Scotland

[DandyDon]

Two divers dead after being rescued from the water in Barra

At around 11.20am, a ferry skipper raised the alarm with Stornoway Coastguard after the two shell fish divers dived from their boat and failed to resurface off Castlebay.

Emergency services – RNLI Barra lifeboats along with Coastguard rescue helicopter and Barra Coastguard Rescue Team – managed to rescue the two men from the water at around 1pm but they later died at the scene.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said: “Two shell fish divers have been recovered by the RNLI Barra lifeboat after a search in Castle Bay, Barra Island, this morning.

“At 11.20am Stornoway Coastguard was contacted by a local ferry boat skipper who had noticed two divers go into the water and not resurface, leaving their small boat unmanned.

“The RNLI Barra lifeboats were asked to search the area along with the Coastguard rescue helicopter based in Stornoway and Barra Coastguard Rescue Team.”

Cops have said that it is too early to establish the full circumstances of the tragic deaths.

The family of one diver have been informed, but cops are still attempting to contact the family of the second man.

A Police Spokesperson said: “Police Scotland can confirm that two men have died after getting into difficulty in the water at Castlebay, Barra today.

“Police were informed at around 12pm. The two men were rescued from the water by the Coastguard lifeboat but unfortunately died at the scene.”

More information is set to be released after the families have been notified.

 

[wgw04024]

I can't say I've seen the word 'cops' multiple times in an article before.