Two dead, one missing as Scottish boat capsizes

A father and his 12-year-old son died and another son, aged 14, is missing after a motorboat capsized off the west coast of Scotland…

A father and his 12-year-old son died and another son, aged 14, is missing after a motorboat capsized off the west coast of Scotland, the coastguard said today.

Mr Sean Ridley (34) and Michael Ridley (12) died in hospital after spending up to five hours in the waters of Loch Ryan near Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Rescuers are still searching the loch and surrounding area for Mr Ridley's other son, 14-year-old Stephen, following the accident last night. Seven coastguard teams and local police are all involved in the search.

The search, near the main sea route between Scotland and Northern Ireland, was called off shortly before midnight last night and resumed at 4.30 a.m. this morning.

READ MORE

Those who had already been pulled from the water were wearing life jackets but it was not clear if they also had survival clothing to withstand the cold of the water.

A rescue helicopter had been scrambled to join the hunt.

Search teams were also scouring the coastline around Loch Ryan to see if the missing teenager had managed to scramble ashore.

MCGA spokesman Mr Mark Clark said: "It was calm waters yesterday. We really do not know what happened or how the vessel got swamped.

"This will obviously be subject of an inquiry."

Galloway Coastguard sector manager Mr David Shaw said the five on the boat had probably been hit by a "freak gust" on their way back to shore.

PA