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Missing fishermen 'glad to be found' Missing fishermen 'glad to be found'
(35 minutes later)
Two fishermen feared lost at sea off the Aberdeenshire coast have said they were "glad to be found".Two fishermen feared lost at sea off the Aberdeenshire coast have said they were "glad to be found".
The 16ft creel boat Water Rail failed to return to Gourdon harbour just before midday on Tuesday.The 16ft creel boat Water Rail failed to return to Gourdon harbour just before midday on Tuesday.
Jim Reid, 75, and his 35-year-old grandson David Irvine, from Inverbervie, were found in the boat on Thursday morning. Jim Reid, 75, and his grandson David Irvine, 35, from Inverbervie, are back on dry land after being found in the boat on Thursday morning.
They were discovered about 46 miles off the coast of Montrose by another fishing vessel, the Sylvia Bowers DS8.They were discovered about 46 miles off the coast of Montrose by another fishing vessel, the Sylvia Bowers DS8.
The pair lost their way in fog about half a mile off shore, and ran off course when their compass stopped working.The pair lost their way in fog about half a mile off shore, and ran off course when their compass stopped working.
Mr Irvine said he and his grandfather were "pleased to see the Sylvia Bowers" when they were rescued. Mr Irvine said he and his grandfather were "pleased to see the Sylvia Bowers" when they were rescued before being taken ashore at Montrose lifeboat station.
And crew member Mark Spence said the pair were "perfectly fine" after they were picked up.And crew member Mark Spence said the pair were "perfectly fine" after they were picked up.
'Over the moon''Over the moon'
"We were just looking about and saw the small vessel not far from us waving at us to stop, so we slowed down and woke up the skipper," he said."We were just looking about and saw the small vessel not far from us waving at us to stop, so we slowed down and woke up the skipper," he said.
"Once we got to their boat they told us what was wrong and we got them aboard and tied their boat to ours."Once we got to their boat they told us what was wrong and we got them aboard and tied their boat to ours.
"The guys are safe and well and over the moon to be found - they are perfectly fine."The guys are safe and well and over the moon to be found - they are perfectly fine.
"They were cold when they came aboard, and hungry, but they're all warmed up now and have had some food, just glad they were found.""They were cold when they came aboard, and hungry, but they're all warmed up now and have had some food, just glad they were found."
The Buckie-based fishing boat towed the pair's creel boat, the Water Rail, closer to land before transferring it - and the men themselves - to the Montrose lifeboat to be taken ashore. The Buckie-based fishing boat towed the Water Rail closer to land before transferring it - and the men themselves - to the Montrose lifeboat to be taken ashore.
'Give them back'
A large-scale search for the fishermen involving lifeboats, fishing boats, helicopters and a plane had earlier been called off.A large-scale search for the fishermen involving lifeboats, fishing boats, helicopters and a plane had earlier been called off.
Vessels in the area had been asked to look out for the boat but no more searches had been planned. Mr Reid's sister Dorothy Milne said she had feared the worst for the missing pair.
The search area took in a stretch of coastline from Stonehaven to St Cyrus, and far out to sea. "It was just terrible, just awful," she said.
Anxious relatives and friends had been waiting at the harbourside for news, and told of their disbelief at hearing the news of the rescue. "Marion - David's mum - went out her back door last night and shouted at the sea. 'Give me them back!' she said.
"I never knew the search had been called off.
"My other sister and I had been away on a trip and when we came back we'd heard they'd been lost at sea.
"My eldest brother lost his son at sea 25 years ago and we just thought, it can't happen again."
The search area took in a stretch of coastline from Stonehaven to St Cyrus, and far out to sea - but not as far offshore as the boat was eventually found.
Richard Smith from the local lifeboat station said the rescued pair were "extremely lucky".
"The RNLI and many other vessels had spent many hours searching," he said.
"For example we had more than 20 volunteers and four lifeboats out, we spent hundreds of man hours, and the search had officially been called off on Wednesday night - and they've been found.
"This is an extremely brilliant outcome and we're all very pleased for them."