Missing diver saved by Russians
A DIVER who survived more than 11 hours adrift in icy waters was ‘kept going’ by the sight of boats and helicopters searching for him.
Ivan Doychev, 40, was plucked from the bitterly cold Pentland Firth around 3am yesterday by a Russian sail training vessel after crew spotted him swimming towards them.
Rescuers said they were inspired to keep searching at night after the remarkable rescue of surfer Matthew Bryce, 22, saved on Monday after 32 hours in the North Channel.
Scallop diver Mr Doychev was reported missing at 5.20pm on Wednesday.
The boat he had been aboard, the Fair Morn, had drifted from his dive site after its propeller broke down. When it returned 15 minutes later crew could not find his marker buoy.
Speaking before his release from Caithness General Hospital in Wick yesterday evening, Mr Doychev said he survived his ordeal by being calm, adding: ‘If you panic, you drown.’
The Bulgarian, who works for Orkney Dived Scallops and lives on South Ronaldsay, Orkney, said: ‘By my watch I was in the water for 11 hours and 33 minutes.
‘I am very appreciative of the Coastguard. I could see the helicopters and boats. They were far away but I could see them so I knew they were looking for me, which kept me going. Thanks to the people who helped me I am recovering well.’
RNLI teams would usually have been stood down at 11pm but Karen Munro, spokesman for Thurso lifeboat station, said: ‘The search continued into the night because of two things: we knew he was wearing a reflective helmet so there was a chance we would be able to see him. The other thing was the surfer who was found alive after 32 hours.’
Fred Brown, owner of the Fair Morn, said: ‘Ivan is a very capable, strong, fit diver. It shows how professionally he takes it.’
Mr Brown added: ‘It’s something I would never hope to repeat. There’s not enough scallops in the sea worth getting hurt over.’
Mr Doychev was rescued by crew on the Russian vessel Yunyi Baltiets around two miles east of Duncansby Point, near John O’ Groats – eight miles from where he went missing.
RNLI Thurso coxswain Wing Munro said: ‘He is a very lucky man, as it’s not easy to see someone in the dark.’