TERROR AS WAVERLEY PADDLE STEAMER CRASHES INTO PIER
Witness says passengers were thrown around deck in frightening incident
THE Waverley paddle steamer smashed into a pier yesterday – and 17 people were left injured.
Witnesses described seeing the vessel – which has only recently returned to service following £2.3million of repairs – career towards the harbour at Brodick, on the island of Arran.
When it hit the pier, passengers on board were catapulted around the deck.
Eyewitness Rita McLeod said she saw people falling over when the boat crashed into the pier.
She said: “It came in bow first and far too fast. We saw a lot of people falling and then being taken away in ambulances. People coming off were pretty badly shaken.”
Passenger Gavin Saxby tweeted about a “mess on board” and “lots of injuries”. He added later: “I was up on deck and we were approaching the jetty. We didn’t seem to be slowing down and, all of a sudden, people on deck were knocked off their feet and there was a bang. The crew were on the ball dealing with the first aid. Once the ambulance crew had arrived and presumably all triage work had been done, uninjured passengers were allowed off.”
Pictures posted online showed the crumpled hull of the Waverley – the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world – after the collision.
Figures released by the emergency services said 17 people reported injuries and a number were taken to hospital.
It is believed 213 passengers and 26 crew were on board at the time of the collision.
A Coastguard search-andrescue helicopter from Prestwick and a Helimed air ambulance were sent to the scene, along with Arran Coastguard rescue team. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland staff remained at Brodick last night. Coastguards worked with other agencies to ensure everyone was taken safely from the vessel.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been informed of the incident.
The crash continued a run of bad luck for the Waverley, which was built in 1946. It had only just started sailing again after about two years in dry dock for repairs, including two new boilers.
In August 2017, the Waverley was put out of action after crashing into the promenade at Rothesay.