Have fun and stay safe
Last message to anglers before boat overturned
TWO anglers who swam to safety after their boat capsized in high winds have paid an emotional tribute to their friend, who is still missing
The three men were fishing on Loch Awe, Argyll, when the 16ft vessel got into difficulty on Saturday.
Nathan Cairney, 23, and 27-year-old Kyle Cairney, managed to swim to a nearby island, but Kieran Cowan, 23, of Prestonpans, East Lothian, was still missing last night.
Nathan yesterday posted a video of the trio, filmed when they were about to embark on their fishing trip.
He wrote: ‘Had some of the best memories with you my brother, what a day/ laugh we had on Saturday trying to fish, from dropping the tenner in the water and driving back to fish it back out and that was only thing we caught that day! Trying everything possible to bring you back bro.’
Mr Cairney alerted friends on social media to their upcoming trip on Saturday with the simple message: ‘Fishing trip up Loch Awe.’ Follower Joan Neilson replied; ‘You boys give me the fear. Have fun and stay safe xxx.’
It is understood Mr Cowan’s girlfriend, Lisa Reid, is expecting their first child. The baby is due on Boxing Day.
On Sunday night, Miss Reid, a healthcare assistant at NHS Lothian, posted a picture of herself with Mr Cowan. In the photograph she is holding a balloon with the message ‘Baby Coming’.
In a tribute issued through police, his family said: ‘He lights up the room with his infectious smile and his motto is: “It is what it is”.’
Daniel O’Rouke, 25, a friend who attended Preston Lodge High School with Mr Cowan, said: ‘I can’t get over it. He was a lovely, quiet, nice guy. I hope he’s alive.
‘His girlfriend is pregnant – so he has a baby on the way too, which makes it even worse.
‘He went up to the loch with two friends, Kyle and Nathan, the other two are fine but I heard they’re shaken up.’
Mr Cowan, a joiner, had been camping with his two friends before the incident.
Janet Lightbrown, owner of Loch Awe Boats, who hired the vessel to the group, said: ‘The men were fishing. They’d been camping somewhere near Inishail Island. They seemed like nice boys.
‘This is the first time we’ve experienced a tragedy like this first hand. The loch does have a reputation for being quite deadly but we’ve never personally had experience with it until now.
‘It all happened out of the blue. I got a call last night telling me what happened and I rushed down to assist the authorities.’
Cliff Davies, her business partner, added: ‘The weather was fine when they set off. But it can get very windy at times. We made sure they all had their life jackets – as we do with all our customers. It’s a sad incident and we hope the man is found alive.’
A land, air and sea search involving coastguards, police, fire service and local boats was launched after the two men raised the alarm at 4.40pm on Saturday.
They were taken to Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban, where they were treated and later released.
A Police Scotland spokesman said yesterday: ‘The Police Scotland Dive and Marine Unit and members of the mountain rescue team are currently carrying out a search of the area to find Kieran.’
‘Trying everything to bring you back’