The Scotsman

Waverley steamer crashes into pier

● Veteran steamer hit pier at Brodick ● Only returned to service last month

- By CATHERINE SALMOND and IAIN POPE

More than 15 people wereinjure­d when the Waverley steamer crashed into a pier at Brodick on Arran yesterday. It is believed that 240 people were on board and a number have been taken to hospital.

More than 15 people have been injured after the recently relaunched Waverley steamer crashed into a pier on Arran.

Emergency services were called to the scene at Brodick Pier at about 5:28pm yesterday.

It is believed that 213 passengers and 26 crew were on board at the time of the collision. A total of 17 people have reported injuries, and a number have been taken to hospital.

A coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick was sent to the scene, along with Arran coastguard rescue team. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland were also called.

The Marine Accident Investigat­ion Branch (MAIB) has been informed.

Onlooker Gavin Saxby took to Twitter with a photo showing the vessel’ s bow badly damaged, and later told reporters: “I was up on deck, we were approachin­g the jetty and didn’t seem to be slowing down and all of a sudden most people on the deck were knocked off their feet and there was a bang.

“The crew were on the ball, dealing with the first aid, keeping everything in order.”

It is understood the force of the crash pushed passengers forward, causing injury to many but the extent is not yet known.

Nobody from the ship’s Glasgow-based operators, Waverley Excursions Ltd, was available for comment when contacted by The Scotsman.

The incident comes less than a month after the boat returned to service plying the Clyde following recent repairs.

The steamer has been recently undergoing a refit on her main boilers and had not been in service for two seasons.

Kay Mulligan, 34, was on a birthday cruise with her husband and was on the top deck when it struck the pier.

She said: “At first I didn’t quite realise what was going on but the jolt made me slip down a few steps and so did my husband behind me and people in front of me fell off their feet and off their seats.

“I don’t want to say there was bodies ever ywhere but there kind of was, to be honest. Ever yone who wasn’t hur t was checking ever ybody else and

helping out. There was one guy with a broken arm and a doctor who was on board got him in a sling.”

Campaigner­s for the Waverley, built in 1946, previously helped to raise money for urgent repairs. Money was raised by more than 8,000 members of the public and £1 million was given by the Scottish Government.

The Waverley, named after the debut novel of Sir Walter Scott, embarked on her first trip in June 1947.

“I don’t want to say there was bodies everywhere but there kind of was, to be honest. Everyone who wasn’t hurt was checking everybody”

KAY MULLIGAN Waverley passenger

 ??  ?? 0 The Waverley only returned to service last month after two years out of action with boiler faults
0 The Waverley only returned to service last month after two years out of action with boiler faults

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