Tributes to divers af ter isle fishing trip ends in tragedy
FRIENDS yesterday paid tribute to two divers who died after getting into difficulty during a fishing trip.
Iain Ruairidh Macdougall and Ryan McGuckin, both 39, died after diving near Castlebay on the Outer Hebridean island of Barra.
A ferry skipper raised the alarm at 11.20am on Saturday after he spotted an unmanned boat, believed to belong to Mr Macdougall, who lived in Castlebay.
The Barra Coastguard team and Barra lifeboat, as well as a Coastguard helicopter, took part in a search and rescue operation and the men were pulled from the water around 1pm, but died at the scene.
Mr McGuckin, who was from Falkirk but had been living in London, is understood to have been visiting Mr Macdougall. He is believed to have been a father of two daughters.
Mr McGuckin and Mr Macdougall got into difficulty 270 yards from the shore after only one man resurfaced. An onlooker described seeing one of the pair diving back under the water to help his friend.
The tragedy comes barely weeks after the death of Eilidh MacLeod, 14, in the Manchester Arena terror attack.
The teenager had attended the Ariana Grande concert in May with Laura MacIntyre, 15, also from Barra.
Laura survived the blast but suffered ‘significant hand and leg injuries’. Last month she was transferred to a Glasgow hospital where she was said to be making ‘good progress’.
Mr Macdougall is understood to have been a neighbour of Eilidh’s family and islanders are trying to come to terms with the latest deaths.
Last night, tributes were paid to the two men on social media as friends and family expressed their grief.
One friend told Mr Macdougall’s sister, Mary Catherine Waddell, via Facebook: ‘So sorry for your loss, he was a gentleman and a legend.’
Laura Mac wrote: ‘He was so friendly, funny and kind, Mary Catherine, still can’t believe it, thinking of you all.’
Charlie Don posted: ‘A true gent and a great friend. I am going to miss him terribly.’
Jennie Ann MacLeod said: ‘Tragic and heartbreaking. He was a lovely man. May he rest in peace.’
John Sinclair posted on Facebook in memory of Mr McGuckin, saying: ‘Saddened to hear the news about my good friend passing away. RIP Ryan McGuckin.’
Another Facebook post on the St Paul’s Celtic FC page – a group of Celtic fans based in London who play football in a midweek league – said: ‘Tragic news from the weekend that one of our original players, Ryan McGuckin, died in a diving accident on Saturday morning in Barra.
‘Ryan was a brilliant big guy, a terrific footballer and always had a smile on his face.
‘The words from his closest friends testify to his character, and the world is a poorer place without him in it. Gutted at this news, as are all the guys who played with him at St Paul’s. We’ve lost a teammate and a friend.
‘Thoughts of everyone at St Paul’s are with his partner, daughters, family and friends. He’ll be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.’
Police Scotland Inspector Jane Nicolson said: ‘Our thoughts are with the families and friends of Mr Macdougall and Mr McGuckin at this very difficult time, as well as with the tight-knit community on Barra which has been deeply affected by this tragedy.
‘I would like to thank members of the public who assisted the emergency services.
‘Our inquiries are continuing but there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.’
‘Teammate and friend’