17 Airlifted After Fishing Vessel Runs Aground Off Hoy

A total of 17 people were airlifted to safety after a fishing vessel ran aground near the Old Man of Hoy, off Orkney, in a multi-agency rescue operation launched just after 6.30am. The boat issued a Mayday call requesting help to evacuate everyone on board. HM Coastguard helicopters from Sumburgh and Stornoway responded to the scene, with all 17 crew members airlifted by the Stornoway helicopter and taken to Kirkwall. The RNLI lifeboat from Stromness and St Margaret's Hope Coastguard Rescue Teams were also scrambled, alongside Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service. No injuries were reported among those rescued. A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson confirmed that the HM Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel has been dispatched to the scene, while the HM Coastguard Counter Pollution team and other relevant authorities have been informed of the incident. The spokesperson said no further information was available at this time. The Old Man of Hoy, a 137-metre sea stack off the island of Hoy, is a notable coastal landmark in Orkney. The cause of the grounding has not yet been disclosed, and authorities have not confirmed whether any environmental impact has resulted from the incident.