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| Two bodies found in loch search | Two bodies found in loch search |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two bodies have been recovered from Loch Awe in Argyll following a search for four men who had gone out in a small boat. | Two bodies have been recovered from Loch Awe in Argyll following a search for four men who had gone out in a small boat. |
| The dead men, who were wearing lifejackets were aged 47 and 30. | The dead men, who were wearing lifejackets were aged 47 and 30. |
| An RAF helicopter, police and the coastguard are still trying to find the other two men, who are aged 45 and 36. | An RAF helicopter, police and the coastguard are still trying to find the other two men, who are aged 45 and 36. |
| The search was launched after police received a call from a fifth member of the party at about 0345 GMT. Thick fog hampered the rescue effort. | The search was launched after police received a call from a fifth member of the party at about 0345 GMT. Thick fog hampered the rescue effort. |
| The bodies were recovered from the water at 0617 GMT. | The bodies were recovered from the water at 0617 GMT. |
| Chief Inspector Andrew Mosley describes the scene | Chief Inspector Andrew Mosley describes the scene |
| The men, who were on a fishing trip, had been camping on the banks of the loch, near Kilchurn Castle, close to Dalmally, and were thought to be from Glasgow. | |
| A police spokesman said they had decided to take a small boat across the loch to a hotel and left at about 2300 GMT, leaving one of the group at the campsite. | A police spokesman said they had decided to take a small boat across the loch to a hotel and left at about 2300 GMT, leaving one of the group at the campsite. |
| At around 0300 GMT the 38-year-old man discovered his friends had not returned. He then heard them calling for help from the loch and alerted the emergency services. | At around 0300 GMT the 38-year-old man discovered his friends had not returned. He then heard them calling for help from the loch and alerted the emergency services. |
| A search was launched, involving Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, the coastguard and Oban Mountain Rescue, but the rescuers were severely hindered by the dense fog. | A search was launched, involving Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, the coastguard and Oban Mountain Rescue, but the rescuers were severely hindered by the dense fog. |
| A spokesman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said that on arrival at the scene, which is near the A819, the fire crews could hear calls for help from the loch.The men had been camping on the banks of the loch | A spokesman for Strathclyde Fire and Rescue said that on arrival at the scene, which is near the A819, the fire crews could hear calls for help from the loch.The men had been camping on the banks of the loch |
| But as visibility was down to just five metres, they could not see anyone and a helicopter was unable to locate the men. | |
| A rescue boat was called out from Renfrew fire station, whose crew pulled two men out of the water. Both were wearing lifejackets. | A rescue boat was called out from Renfrew fire station, whose crew pulled two men out of the water. Both were wearing lifejackets. |
| The spokesman said: "The two men were unconscious and in a poor condition, sadly both were declared dead at the scene." | The spokesman said: "The two men were unconscious and in a poor condition, sadly both were declared dead at the scene." |
| The search for the other two men is continuing. | The search for the other two men is continuing. |
| Insp Andrew Mosley, of Strathclyde Police, said: "The weather conditions have not helped us at all.The men were spotted in the waters of Loch Awe in the early hours | Insp Andrew Mosley, of Strathclyde Police, said: "The weather conditions have not helped us at all.The men were spotted in the waters of Loch Awe in the early hours |
| "We've been down to very, very low visibility on the loch which makes a very difficult operating environment for the emergency services, but also from a practical point of view, actually trying to see any debris or any other evidence that may be on the loch at this time." | "We've been down to very, very low visibility on the loch which makes a very difficult operating environment for the emergency services, but also from a practical point of view, actually trying to see any debris or any other evidence that may be on the loch at this time." |
| Earlier, a police spokesman said: "All available means are being used for the search and the search is still ongoing at present." | Earlier, a police spokesman said: "All available means are being used for the search and the search is still ongoing at present." |
| At a makeshift campsite where the men were staying on the banks of the loch, cups of coffee and milk were found beside five folding chairs. | |
| Fishing rods had also been left out and there was a green petrol canister with their belongings. | |
| The A819 has been reduced to one carriageway while the search is being carried out. | The A819 has been reduced to one carriageway while the search is being carried out. |
| Loch Awe, which is popular with anglers, is the third largest loch by surface area in Scotland and is sometimes referred to as "The Jewel Of Argyll". | Loch Awe, which is popular with anglers, is the third largest loch by surface area in Scotland and is sometimes referred to as "The Jewel Of Argyll". |
| It is also the longest freshwater loch in Scotland, measuring more than 25 miles from end to end, with an average width of just over half a mile. | It is also the longest freshwater loch in Scotland, measuring more than 25 miles from end to end, with an average width of just over half a mile. |