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| Two bodies found in loch search | Two bodies found in loch search |
| (40 minutes 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. |
| An RAF helicopter, police and the coastguard are still trying to find the other two men. | An RAF helicopter, police and the coastguard are still trying to find the other two men. |
| The four men were in their 30s and 40s. The dead men were wearing lifejackets. | The four men were in their 30s and 40s. The dead men were wearing lifejackets. |
| The search was launched after police received a call at about 0345 GMT. Rescuers said thick fog was hampering the rescue effort. | The search was launched after police received a call at about 0345 GMT. Rescuers said thick fog was hampering the rescue effort. |
| The bodies were recovered from the water at 0617 GMT. | The bodies were recovered from the water at 0617 GMT. |
| The alarm was raised by a member of the public who was concerned about the safety of the men. | The alarm was raised by a member of the public who was concerned about the safety of the men. |
| 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. | |
| Chief Inspector Andrew Mosley describes the scene | |
| But as visibility was down to just five metres, they could not see anyone and a coastguard helicopter was unable to locate the men. | But as visibility was down to just five metres, they could not see anyone and a coastguard 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 and is focused on the area close to Kilchurn Castle, near Dalmally. | The search for the other two men is continuing and is focused on the area close to Kilchurn Castle, near Dalmally. |
| The group had been camping on the banks of the loch and did not live locally. | The group had been camping on the banks of the loch and did not live locally. |
| Insp Andrew Mosley, of Strathclyde Police, said: "The weather conditions have not helped us at all.The men had been camping on the banks of the loch | Insp Andrew Mosley, of Strathclyde Police, said: "The weather conditions have not helped us at all.The men had been camping on the banks of the loch |
| "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." |
| 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. |