(Updated below – latest 17.00) There is a major ongoing air sea rescue, with three helicopters involved this morning - off the Isle of Seil in the Slate Islands south of Oban. The coastguard and Oban Mountain Rescue are also involved in the search.
A retired local man, Ian Fullarton who is an officer of the church on Seil, went out kayaking on his own yesterday and has not been seen since.
He is known to be very fit – regularly cycling into Oban and back, so the hope must be that, in an indented island and mainland coastline in the area, he has managed to get safely shore somewhere.
15.15 update: We understand from local sources that a body has been found and that islanders are aware of this. We have asked Strathclyde Police for confirmation.
15.35 update: Strathclyde Police have confirmed that a body has been found in the area the kayaker was proposing to paddle. Until there is a formal identification has been made, Strathclyde Police can obviously release no name.
17.00 update: Oban lifeboat launched at 02.00 this morning to search for the overdue kayaker who had set out from Balvicar on Friday afternoon for a few hours canoeing.
By 09.00 neither lifeboat nor helicopter had spotted anything and the lifeboat returned to Oban to take aboard a largely fresh crew who returned to search a wider area and by this time other local boats had joined in the search.
In the early afternoon, a small private helicopter reported that he had spotted a kayak and person in it some 2 miles West of Insh Island and he hovered over it until the lifeboat came on scene.
This was the missing man who was found to be dead and the body was taken back to Oban and handed over to Police and undertakers.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again some 12 hours after launching.
It has to be said that in the toughest times any of us have to contend with, the rescue services, every one of them, are dauntless. And it is clear that here, as in so many cases, private people did absolutely all they could to help. Together, this commitment to the value of life dignifies humanity.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ian, Marilyn and the boys..
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So sad for the family and the island community..
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Tragic news for the island. Ian was a tremendous member of the community. Thinking of Marilyn and the boys.
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Tragic news. Ian was much admired as a fit, competent hillwalker and a charismatic member of our Club. Our condolences to his wife and family.
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Hi all, I was Kayaking, in the area alone on the day in question. I saw his boat in Easdale Harbour, but not him, as I set out. I rounded Insh Island, and on turning the Northern Tip, I saw him up on the lookout halfway up. I continued to see where he had landed, as I needed a leg stretch. His boat was upsidedown, on some big boulders, and it was too awkward to land for me. As I set off for the Northern end of Seil, I saw him returning to his kayak, he looked fine, with nothing to suggest anything was wrong, and saw me, and had oppurtunity to communicate had there been anything wrong. I believe I am the last person to see him alive………God bless.
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