Four rescued as canoes capsizeArran's inshore lifeboat C521 Prince of Arran rescued four people and recovered two canoes on 2 February following a call for assistance from Clyde Coastguard.

At 1145, the coastguard reported that three canoes had capsized in rough seas in Brodick Bay three miles north of the station and that a fourth person was paddling to assist.

The lifeboat was launched eight minutes later with Nigel Marshall at the helm, the crew just having finished changing the engine following mechanical problems during an earlier exercise. The wind was a southwesterly Force 6 and the sea was choppy with a swell of some 3-5ft.

On reaching the search area at 1205, the lifeboat crew found two abandoned and drifting canoes. They also found one female, who confirmed that an adult male and two boys were still missing.

The lifeboat crew continued the search, at the same time treating the first survivor for exposure and summoning an ambulance to Brodick Pier.

The three survivors were eventually found and brought ashore to Brodick Pier where it was found that the ambulance had not yet arrived. Acar was commandeered to take the survivors to hospital in Lamlash. One of the young boys was severely hypothermic and was kept in overnight, while the other three were released later in the day.

On returning to the scene of the search, the lifeboat recovered two canoes and brought them ashore. The other canoes had drifted and were reported as missing to the coastguard.

The lifeboat left the area at 1245 and was ready for service again at 1340.

Chief of operations Commodore George Cooper has written to congratulate helmsman Marshall and his three crew 'on a fine service, especially from the first aid aspect.'.