The CalMac ferry Clansman spotted the two women

The CalMac ferry Clansman spotted the two women

Two paddlers were rescued from a Scottish sea loch today after spending three hours in the water.

The women were taken to hospital with mild hypothermia after a major search involving shipping in the Sound of Mull, Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats, the Coastguard and a Royal Navy helicopter.

The alarm was raised shortly after noon by a shopkeeper after two Dutch tourists told him they had seen the canoeists in difficulty in Salen Bay.

The Tobermory Coastguard Rescue Team was scrambled by Clyde Coastguard but failed to see any paddlers in difficulty. A radio alert was then put out to shipping in the area to be on the lookout for the canoeists and a further broadcast was made to ask for the assistance of all shipping in the area, between Mull and Morvern. Coastguard staff then learned that a rigid inflatable boat had been seen close to the canoeists, which the tourists had assumed was helping them.

A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “At 2.10pm the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry Clansman spotted the canoeists and reported that there was one canoeist in the water, and one in a canoe.

“The dive boat Peregrin, which had also been involved in the search, picked up the two casualties and brought them ashore, where they were transferred to Dunaros Hospital [in Salen] and treated for mild hypothermia.  By the time they came ashore they had been in the water for three hours.”

Clyde Coastguard watch manager Calum Murray said: “On speaking to the two casualties it transpired that what the first informant had seen was the wake from the RIB [rigid inflatable boat] as it passed the canoeists, pitching them into the water.

“Although the two canoeists were adequately dressed and were wearing buoyancy aids – which ultimately led to the fact that they were able to stay afloat in the water for such a sustained period – they did not have radios or other communications devices to allow them to make a distress call.

“The weather on scene was force four to five, gusting to six, which is not ideal for open canoes.

“If you are going out onto the water, always check the weather before you set out, and ensure you have appropriate safety equipment should you get into difficulty.

“Finally, if you see someone in difficulty at the coast, always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”