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Safety Warning for Fishermen

COASTGUARD officers have urged fishermen to think of their own safety before setting out on a fishing trip in extreme weather.

The warning came after two men were seen fishing off a tiny sandbank at The Scar at Kirkcolm. The stormy Lochryan waters had completely surrounded the bank and the men, believed to have been from Lancaster, were almost engulfed by the waves.

Their actions prompted one passer-by to alert the Coastguard who along with police ports unit officers kept an eye on the two fishermen at Kirkcolm.

The alarm was raised shortly after 2 pm on Thursday amid strong winds and rain. A spokesman for the Coastguard said:

"The waves in Lochryan at the time were worse than any wash that comes off the ferries.

"It was a very dangerous situation, the waves were breaking all around them.

"If we had had to call out life-boats and helicopters then it would have been very difficult in the conditions."

The spokesman warned:

"A lot of fishermen do come down here and enjoy the coast. But we would ask that before they set out they would notify someone of where they are going, have the right equipment and to phone the Coastguard operations room to find out the weather forecast and tidal conditions."