Fisherman Found Dead Off Scotland's Outer Hebrides, Two Crewmates Missing

Police have identified the fisherman found dead after his vessel went missing off the coast of Scotland's Outer Hebrides as 49-year-old Douglas Craigie.

Craigie was part of the crew of the fishing boat Kilda, which was last known to be operating near the Port of Ness on the Isle of Lewis. His two crewmates, 40-year-old Norman Murray and 23-year-old Murdo Morrison, remain unaccounted for and are being treated as missing.

All three men are from the Isle of Lewis. The alarm was raised and police were notified on Tuesday at 11:35 p.m. after the boat failed to return to harbor. The vessel has not yet been recovered, and searches are continuing.

Craigie's body was recovered in the area around 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday. The Kilda had reportedly sailed from Brevaig on the west coast of Lewis around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday and traveled to the Port of Ness area.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency stated the alarm was first raised around 9:20 p.m. after the boat did not reach its destination. The RNLI confirmed Stornoway's all-weather lifeboat was launched at 9:42 p.m. HM Coastguard reported that an aircraft, two helicopters, six rescue teams, and a local vessel were involved in the search.

The men are believed to have been on a creel boat that fishes for shellfish. The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for the region, with gusts reaching up to 70 mph in parts of the Highlands and Western Isles. Heavy rain and strong winds were expected as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias reached the UK.

Police Scotland urged the public not to put themselves at risk by attempting to join the search in the challenging conditions. Chief Inspector Ross McCartney stated that their thoughts are with the families of the three fishermen and that specialist support is being provided. He asked for the families' privacy to be respected during this difficult time.

"We are working closely with the HM Coastguard and RNLI to search for the vessel and the two missing men," McCartney said. "The conditions are very challenging and I would urge people not to put themselves at any risk. Please do not attempt to carry out searches in areas which put you at risk of harm."

He encouraged anyone with information that could assist emergency services to call 101, quoting reference 3575 of October 13. A police presence remains in the Port of Ness area.

Western Isles Convener Kenny Macleod described the incident as a "very dark day for the communities affected by this tragedy," expressing his thoughts and prayers for the families and gratitude for the search teams working in severe weather.

First Minister John Swinney also conveyed his condolences, stating, "My heart goes out to the families of the three fishermen in Ness, and the communities on the Isle of Lewis."

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard confirmed they received a report of the overdue fishing vessel with three people on board and that a range of search and rescue assets were deployed in response.