Search called off for two missing fishermen after tragedy off Isle of Lewis
The search for Norman Murray, 40, and Murdo Morrison, 23, and their fishing vessel has been stood down after the FV Kilda failed to return to port off the Isle of Lewis on Tuesday evening. Their crewmate and skipper, Douglas Craigie, 49, was found dead near Port of Ness in the early hours of Wednesday.
Coastguard said its response had ended pending new information, after search teams worked in severe weather, including 70mph gales and waves around 10ft high. All three men were from Lewis; tributes have been paid to Craigie, and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has sent a team to make a preliminary assessment of the vessel’s loss.
- Search for two missing Lewis fishermen has been stood down.
- Skipper Douglas Craigie was found dead near Port of Ness.
- Investigators are assessing the loss of the FV Kilda.
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The Isle of Lewis is part of the Outer Hebrides, a group of islands off Scotland’s west coast where fishing is an important local industry. Fishing boats can spend long periods at sea, and crews may face changing weather and difficult conditions.
The FV Kilda was crewed by Norman Murray, Murdo Morrison and skipper Douglas Craigie, all from Lewis. The Coastguard coordinates searches for people and vessels in danger at sea, while the Marine Accident Investigation Branch examines serious incidents to establish what happened and how similar events might be prevented.