THREE injured fishermen were admitted to the Western Isles Hospital yesterday after the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter battled through high winds and a 30 foot swell off the Butt of Lewis to pluck them to safety.

Two of the men were receiving treatment to head injuries while the third was being detained after suffering a suspected heart attack.

Their admission to hospital came after a massive airlift operation that involved the Coastguard helicopter refuelling three times as it tried to beat the elements to winch the fishermen to safety. Several rescue attempts were made but the "horrendous" weather forced the helicopter crew back to base until the conditions off the Butt of Lewis abated sufficiently.

At one point when there was a 30 foot swell and 40 knot winds, one of the winchmen was slammed against the mast of the Spanish fishing boat, Monte Castelo several times as he tried to winch down onto the deck. He was unhurt. The rescue was also made hazardous by strong changes in wind speed and direction.

The medical evacuations drama began shortly after 11 pm on Tuesday when the Monte Castelo reported having a crewman on board who had suffered a suspected heart attack. At the time the vessel was 20 miles north of the Butt of Lewis and continued heading southwards to rendezvous with the helicopter.

After several bids to get a winchman on board the Monte Castelo, the helicopter was forced to return to base to await the weather easing. But they were in the air again after being tasked on medical advice to the Banff registered, Achieve which had requested assistance for two crewmen who sustained head injuries after they were struck by a broken wire.

The Achieve, 45 miles off the Butt of Lewis, could not be boarded either, and the helicopter returned to station to refuel.

A Coastguard spokesman said the weather conditions had been "quite severe" and it was not until 10 am yesterday that the East Coast fishermen could be rescued. The Spaniard was also airlifted but during the course of that operation a Norwegian vessel also off the Butt radioed in for medical assistance for a crewman with a broken leg. At the time of going to Press, the helicopter was on its way north again to airlift the casualty from the Norwegian boat.

Original article Stornoway Gazette Jan 23 1997.