The boys are home
SOLITARY candle, burning on Tarbert’s fish quay since Saturday February 7, was quietly extinguished on Tuesday evening.
Its task was done. The way had been lit to guide Tarbert’s boys home to their families.
Lost in the sinking of fishing boat Nancy Glen in Loch Fyne on January 18, Duncan MacDougall and Przemek Krawczyk were returned to Tarbert after a complex operation to raise the boat from a depth of 140 metres.
People in their hundreds gathered at Tarbert Free Church of Scotland to pay their respects as Mr MacDougall was laid to rest on Wednesday April 18 and a service for Mr Krawczyk is due to take place tomorrow (Saturday) at Tarbert Parish Church.
THREE months after the Nancy Glen sank in Loch Fyne, two fishermen lost in the tragedy have been returned to their loved ones.
That dark evening on January 18, skipper Duncan MacDougall, aged 46, and crewman Przemek Krawczyk, 38, went down when the Tarbert fishing boat capsized and sank – despite the efforts of many seafarers and rescue agencies who came to her aid. A third crewman, John Miller, 34, was rescued from the loch by a fish farm boat.
A campaign began almost immediately to recover the vessel from its resting place 140 metres down, off Barmore Island. A fundraising effort with the slogan Bring our Boys Home, garnered donations from people from across Scotland and further afield, but it was only when the Scottish Government pledged support that the campaign gathered real pace.
After weeks of preparation, on April 12, the Nancy Glen was recovered from Loch Fyne. Both men were found on board and this week they returned home to Tarbert.
The funeral of Duncan MacDougall was held on Wednesday and a service will be held for Przemek Krawczyk tomorrow (Saturday April 21) at Tarbert Parish Church.
Central to the campaign to bring the boys home was the Clyde Fishermen’s Association (CFA), under the chairmanship of Tarbert man Kenny MacNab. The association this week thanked the agencies involved in the operation to bring the fishermen home.
A statement read: ‘No matter how large or small your role or contribution was, we valued it. There are simply too many names and organisations to list. However, please be assured of our eternal gratitude to you all.
‘We would like to thank the public for the immense show of support. It has been hum- bling beyond words to experience the heartfelt solidarity and generosity on such a local, national and international level.’ After a complex operation to raise the vessel, the CFA added: ‘Our special and continued thanks go to the Scottish Government, in particular the First Minister of Scotland, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing for their compassion, direct leadership and real presence throughout.
‘We are particularly grateful Scottish ministers agreed to fund the cost of the recovery operation, allowing money raised to go directly to the families affected by this tragedy.
‘We also thank our local elected representatives, Michael Russell MSP and Brendan O’Hara MP, Councillor Ann Horn, Councillor Robin Currie and Councillor Jamie MacGrigor, for their involvement, and the UK Government for its words of support.’
Through the CFA, Duncan MacDougall’s family thanked everyone who helped bring Duncan and Przemek back home, recognising the ‘incredible efforts, skill and gener- osity of the public and the professionals involved and gave their unconditional thanks to everyone who did their best to help’.
They also thanked the community of Tarbert and many communities nationally and interna-
tionally who proved to be a ‘tower of strength’ at a difficult time.
Przemek’s wife, Gosia, said: ‘It is impossible to put into words the effect the loss of Przemek has had on our family.
‘On behalf of my family, thank you very much for the support, help and prayers coming from all over Scotland and the world.
‘I would particularly like to thank the community of Tarbert and the surrounding area for their enormous help, extreme support and kind words each day for the past 12 weeks. There are no words we could return which would express our gratitude.’
Turn to page six to read full statements from the families.
Three months since the tragic sinking of the Nancy Glen fishing boat in Loch Fyne, the boat was last week raised from the depths. Duncan MacDougall and Przemek Krawczyk have now been returned to their families. Through the Clyde Fishermen’s Association, Duncan and Przemek’s families this week issued the following statements: The MacDougall family
The MacDougall family wishes to thank everyone who helped bring Duncan and his fellow fisherman Przemek back home to rest in Tarbert.
They recognise the incredible efforts, skill and generosity of the public and the professionals involved, and give their unconditional thanks to everyone who did their best to help. Thanks go to the community of Tarbert and many communities nationally and internationally who have proved to be a tower of strength at this difficult time.
They wish to thank the Scottish Government, in particular the First Minister, and Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing for their compassion in making the decision to help. They also thank Allan Gibb of Marine Scotland for overseeing the operation.
In addition, they offer gratitude to Police Scotland’s family liaison officer Sergeant Martin Balkeen and Sergeant Danny McGeachy; CalMac; the workers from the Scottish Salmon Company and the valiant divers Calum Gilbert and Iain MacNab who all assisted on the night of the tragedy.
Thanks to the Royal Navy; all of the fishermen who gave their time to search relentlessly; Matthew Ramsay of the Fishermen’s Mission; the Rev Robert MacLeod who provided spiritual support; Michael Russell MSP and Kenneth MacNab and Elaine Whyte of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association and the Clyde Fishermen’s Trust.
A special thank you goes to Anthony Glover and his team at Keynvor MorLift for skill in achieving a very difficult recovery task.
The family would like to ask for privacy at this time to allow them to grieve properly. Their gratitude to everyone who assisted will endure.
Gosia Krawczyk, on behalf of the Krawczyk family
It has been the longest, hardest, saddest and most traumatic 12 weeks of our lives.
I have lost my husband, my love, my best friend and my children have lost their amazing father.
My family and I are mixed with emotions at this moment in time. It is impossible to put into words the effect the loss of Przemek has had on our family. We will forever remember his unconditional love, humility and the sacrifices he made to provide for the family that meant the world to him.
He was everything to us and he has left a space no one else can ever fill. We miss him every day and we are struggling to picture a life without him in it. We know nothing will ever be the same for us and the weight of that grief is heavy to bear.
I would like to thank the Scottish Government, especially the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, for making the decision to retrieve the body of my husband. We also thank the Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing and Michael Russell MSP, Brendan O’Hara MP and Allan Gibb for their humanity, support and direct contact with me and my family; the KML Keynvor MorLift Ltd team for amazing commitment and hard work and Police Scotland for the sensitivity of their support throughout this very difficult process.
Special thanks to Martin Balkeen of Police Scotland who has been by my side from day one. His support, sensitivity, care and good words helped me to survive every day of this tragedy. My children and I are truly, truly appreciative for what he has done for us. He will always have special place in our hearts.
Finally, I would like to thank the Clyde Fishermen’s Association, Clyde Fishermen’s Trust, Kenneth MacNab and Elaine Whyte for being with us and for their invaluable support and help. Without them I do not know how I would survive this very difficult time.
On behalf of my family, thank you very much for the support, help and prayers coming from all over Scotland and the world. I would particularly like to thank the community of Tarbert and the surrounding area for their enormous help, extreme support and kind words each day for the last 12 weeks.
There are no words we could return which would express our gratitude.
We hope to be allowed the space to grieve in this period.
Thank you.