This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7956521.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Two bodies found in loch search | Two bodies found in loch search |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Chief Inspector Andrew Mosley describes the scene | |
| 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. | |
| But as visibility was down to just five metres, they could not see anyone and a helicopter was unable to locate the men.The men had been camping on the banks of the loch | |
| 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. | |
| "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."The men were spotted in the waters of Loch Awe in the early hours | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |