Diver found after major sea search

A DIVER has been rescued after spending 11 hours in the water.

The man, who is reported to be “conscious and in a reasonable condition”, was taken to hospital after being found following a major search operation.

Three lifeboats and two helicopters were involved in the operation in the Pentland Firth.

The man was reported missing from the dive boat Fair Morn at 5.20pm yesterday, off Burwick in Orkney.

Shetland Coastguard coordinated an “extensive search” of the Pentland Firth area overnight involving RNLI lifeboats from Thurso, Longhope and Stromness.

The coastguard helicopter from Shetland was later joined by a second aircraft from Inverness.

Shoreline searches were also carried out by Duncansby, Scrabster, Hoy and St Margarets Hope coastguard teams, while radio broadcasts were made to all vessels in the area to keep a look-out for a missing diver.

At 3.15am today the crew of sail training vessel Yunyi Baltiets, which was passing through the Pentland Firth, reported it had rescued the diver from the water two miles east of Duncansby.

He was transferred to Thurso RNLI lifeboat and brought to shore before being taken to Wick Hospital on the mainland.

Gary Harris, who was coordinating the incident i n Shetland Coastguard Operations Centre, said: “During search operations at sea it’s incredibly challenging to spot a head in the water, especially at night.

“The diver was very fortunate to be spotted by the crew on the sail training vessel Yunyi Baltiets and taken aboard safely.

“He is reported to be conscious and in a reasonable condition considering he has spent 11 hours in the water.”

Meanwhile, a surfer who was rescued after spending 32 hours in the sea has thanked the “heroes” who saved him.

Speaking from his hospital bed in Belfast, Matthew Bryce said he was grateful to be receiving treatment following his ordeal.

The 22-year-old from Glasgow was picked up by a coastguard helicopter 13 miles off the Argyll coast on Monday night after going surfing on Sunday.

In a statement issued through Ulster Hospital, Mr Bryce said: “I am so grateful that I am now receiving treatment in hospital.

“I can’t thank those who rescued and cared for me enough— they are all heroes.”

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