At quarter to three this afternoon, Aberdeen Coastguard received a VHF call from the skipper of a fishing vessel called Falcon.
The skipper of the Falcon reported another fishing vessel the Wilma K was aground on rocks 300 metres east of Mcfarquhars Cave and that the skipper of that fishing vessel was missing believed to have fallen overboard.
Aberdeen Coastguard made a mayday relay broadcast to alert other shipping in the area and requested a helicopter from ARCC Kinloss.
The Coastguard helicopter R100 from Stornoway was scrambled, Cromarty Coastguard rescue team were called out and the Invergordon and Buckie RNLI lifeboats were requested to launch. An anchor handling vessel called Sea Panther also launched their fast rescue craft.
The skipper of the Falcon hauled the string of pots that he knew the Wilma K had set and then assisted in the search for his colleague.
When the Invergordon lifeboat arrived they located the man in the water and recovered him to the lifeboat unconscious. They immediately attempted resuscitation and upon arrival of the helicopter the man was winched into the aircraft for immediate evacuation to Raigmore Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
George Downie, Watch Manager, Aberdeen Coastguard said:
This is another tragic incident where a single handed fisherman has lost his life working at sea. Despite the best efforts of his rescuers, they were unable to resuscitate him.
The family of this man have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
The skipper of the Wilma K has been identified as Mr. Alexander Keith in his mid fifties from Cromarty.
The MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) have been informed.
