One fisherman found dead after boat goes missing off Lewis

The body of fisherman Douglas Craigie has been recovered after his boat went missing off the north coast of Lewis, while two crew members remain missing. Coastguard search operations were stood down on Thursday evening pending new information, after extensive searches in challenging weather, the BBC reports. [1]

Craigie was 49 and would have turned 50 the day after his body was found. The other men are Norman Murray, 40, known as Tam, and Murdo Morrison, 23. Their boat, the Kilda, was reported overdue at about 21:20 on Tuesday.

Police said the three fishermen were believed to have sailed from Brevaig at about 07:30 that morning and travelled to the Port of Ness area to fish. Craigie’s body was recovered there at about 02:45 on Wednesday.

Tributes have been paid by community representatives and political leaders. Isles MP Torcuil Crichton described Craigie’s family as devastated and said the islands would miss his wit and charm. He also paid tribute to Murray and Morrison, both members of the local community.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said aircraft and coastguard teams had taken part in the search. Police said families were receiving specialist support and asked people not to put themselves at risk by searching independently. Anyone with information that could help emergency services was asked to call 101, quoting reference 3575 of 13 October. A police presence was to remain in the Port of Ness area.