Whirlwind wreaks havoc at Corrie’s Sandstone Quay

‘It was over in seconds but to see those boats being moved as if they weighed nothing was scary’

A powerful whirlwind wreaked havoc in Corrie when a localised vortex of wind picked up boats and trailers at Sandstone Quay and tossed them more than 100 feet from the harbour.

Nine boats, some with solid metal trailers, were the casualties of the devastating gust which reduced some boats to splinters and sent others crashing through a fence and onto the main coast road.

The only two eyewitnesses, Sarah and Robert Blair, who live opposite the quay, witnessed the event at exactly 3.12pm last Friday. They describe seeing the boats being thrown 30 foot up into the air and dumped over the road and nearby playpark.

Sarah said: ‘It was over in seconds but to see those boats being moved as if they weighed nothing was scary. Thank goodness no one was cycling along or walking through the playpark.’ Robert, who also witnessed the event, said it lasting for only 10 seconds, adding: ‘Police Scotland were quickly at the scene as was the Arran Coastguard rescue team.’

Later in the day a spindrift was also witnessed off the coast by local weatherman Glen Sloss. Having heard the eyewitness reports of the whirlwind coming from the trees to the sea, he described the winds as mov-

ing from west to east, going against the prevailing winds. He also reported a top gust at his weather station at Sannox as only having recorded a maximum wind speed of 60 miles per hour.

Following the extraordinary event, Corrie residents and emergency crews rapidly cleared the road and returned what could be salvaged of the vessels to the quay.

Some of the vessels were thrown more than 100 feet, landing further down the coast .

Corrie residents rapidly sprang into action and cleared the road of debris and returned the boats to the Quay.

Boats, trailers and parts of a fence were strewn across the main road in Corrie.