Two stranded vessels
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LIFESAVING volunteers made two rescues when boats ran into difficulty in the Moray Firth.
Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (MIRO) was initially paged by Aberdeen Coastguard and asked to attend a report of a boat in difficulty half a mile east of Hopeman harbour.
MIRO operations manager Peter Mackenzie explained: "MIRO were requested to establish if the casualty vessel could be towed off the rocks, however, due to the wind direction, sea state and proximity of rocks this was deemed unsafe and a decision was made to leave the casualty vessel in situ."
Four crew attended in MIRO Rescue and two casualties drifting in their vessel were rescued and brought to shore by Burghead Coastguard.
Also in attendance was Buckie lifeboat and HM Coastguard helicopter. MIRO Rescue was stood down and returned to Findhorn where it was refuelled ready for service.
MIRO chairman, John Low, said: "We are very proud of our crew and shore support volunteers who give up their time to train and attend incidents day and night throughout the year. Our volunteers were out in very rough conditions and I thank them sincerely for their contribution to this rescue."
He added: "If you see a person or an animal in trouble on the water, please call 999 straight away and ask for the Coastguard."
Just weeks later MIRO was paged by Aberdeen Coastguard to attend a rowing skiff with five people on board struggling to make headway in a strong southerly wind, around a mile off Burghead. The vessel was at risk of drifting further offshore.
Four crew attended in MIRO Rescue and traced the skiff and rowers who, although tired, were safe and well. A North 58 Sea Adventures boat also attended, staying with the vessel until MIRO arrived.
Mr Mackenzie said: "The five were taken onboard MIRO Rescue, a rope was secured to the skiff and it was returned to Findhorn on a long tow. The relieved rowers and their boat were assisted onshore at the south pier in Findhorn Bay by MIRO crew at 3pm."
MIRO was called out 15 times between March and December 2018 and has so far been called out 12 times between April and September 2019.
