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Search for missing loch canoeists Missing canoeists found on island
(about 4 hours later)
Two canoeists have gone missing while out on a trip on a loch. Two canoeists whose disappearance sparked a major search of a loch have been found camping on an island.
A search operation has been launched for the pair, in their 30s, who disappeared after paddling out on Loch Awe, near Oban, Argyll and Bute. The pair, aged in their 30s, had not been seen for more than 12 hours when they were spotted at about 0215 GMT, on Loch Awe, near Oban, Argyll and Bute.
The man and woman, from Leeds, set out from a B&B close to the lake on Monday lunchtime but failed to return and were reported missing at about 2130 GMT. Rescuers said the man and the woman, from Leeds, had set up camp on Innis Chonnell island for the night but had not told anyone.
A rescue helicopter was scrambled and shoreline searches carried out, but snow and fog are causing difficulties. A rescue helicopter, two boats and five other vehicles were used in the search.
'Insubstantial canoe' £6,000 search
However, Strathclyde Police said the search would continue throughout the night. The owners of a B&B in Blarghour, where the pair were staying, had reported them missing at about 2130 GMT on Monday.
Graeme Watters, watch officer at Clyde Coastguard, said he was very concerned for the safety of the couple, who have been staying in Blarghour. A total of 20 coastguards, five police officers and a number of local volunteers took part in shoreline searches that were hampered by snow and fog.
He said rescuers feared the type of canoe they were on - a sit-on style surfboard type vessel - was "not very substantial". A spokesman for Clyde Coastguard said the search had probably cost about £6,000.
"We don't know where they were going, or whether they had lifejackets," he said. Stuart Atkinson, watch officer for the coastguard, said the pair should have told their host at the B&B what they had been planning.
"We are quite anxious to locate these people due to the time they have been out." "If you are going to do this kind of thing you should let people ashore know you're doing it," he said.
A search of the loch itself is expected to be carried out when visibility in the area improves. "You don't expect people to go camping at this time of year, so our advice would be, always let somebody ashore know where you're going and when you're going to be back, otherwise this is what happens."