Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Surfer spent 32 hours lost at sea
A SURFER has been rescued by the Coastguard after surviving 32 hours at sea.
Matthew Bryce, 22, from Glasgow, had been missing since Sunday morning and was found 13 miles from the Argyll coast.
He had last been seen at around 9am in the St Catherines area of Argyll, and was believed to be heading to Westport Beach near Campbeltown.
A major search was sparked when he failed to contact his family later that day, with the Coastguard and RNLI helping to comb a large area of shoreline and sea.
A spokeswoman said Mr Bryce, who was wearing a wetsuit, was hypothermic and had been taken to hospital in Belfast. His condition was described as stable. Dawn Petrie, from the Coastguard, said: “He was extremely lucky.
“Hope was fading of finding him safe and well after such a long period in the water.
“With nightfall approaching we were gravely concerned but at 7.30pm (on Monday), the crew on the Coastguard rescue helicopter were delighted when they located him, still with his surfboard, 13 miles off the coast.
“He was kitted out with all the right clothing i ncluding a thick neoprene suit.
“That must have helped him to survive for so long at sea.
“He is hypothermic but conscious and has been flown to hospital in Belfast.”
She added: “He did the right thing by staying with his surfboard and that certainly aided his survival.”
Belfast Coastguard coordinated the search for Mr Bryce, who left to go surfing from Machrihanish beach near Campbeltown.
A large area of sea and shore line was combed after the alarm was raised.
The search involved RNLI lifeboats from Campbeltown, Islay and Red Bay and Coastguard rescue teams from Campbeltown, Southend, Gigha, Tarbert and Port Ellen as well as the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Prestwick.
Police Scotland had appealed for help in tracing Mr Bryce.
Chief Inspector Paul Robertson said: “The response to our appeal to find Matthew has been outstanding.
“It has been a real team effort and I would like to thank everyone who offered their assistance.”