NURSE TAKEN TO MAINLAND IN GALE Islay, Inner Hebrides. At 4.45 on the morning of the 8th March, 1963, the local doctor told the honorary secretary that a patient of his needed an operation urgently. The doctor had asked for an air ambulance but had been told that because of the bad weather none was available for service, and because of the uncertain weather forecast it was not possible to say when one would be able to take the patient to the mainland. The life-boat Francis W. Wotherspoon of Paisley put out at 5.30 in a strong south-easterly gale and a rough sea. It was one hour before low water. The life-boat went to the Portaskaig pier and waited until an ambulance arrived with the patient, who was a nurse. After she had been put aboard, the life-boat made for Oban with another nurse on board accompanying the patient. Both nurses were landed, and the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 6.55..