A 74-year-old holidaymaker was rescued after his small boat capsized off the west coast of Scotland when three paddle-boarders reached him and brought him to safety, relatives and the rescuers said.

Brian Craven, from St Helens, Merseyside, was on an afternoon sail from a holiday park in Kilberry, Argyll and Bute, when his boat overturned in choppy water in August. He said the cold water quickly affected him and that he signalled for help while drifting roughly 1,000 to 2,000 feet off the Knapdale peninsula in the Sound of Jura.

Twins Georgia and Ellie MacCalman, both 18, and their 17-year-old friend Grace Lindsay were paddle-boarding in the area and spotted Craven’s distress signal. The trio, who graduated from Bearsden Academy in June, paddled into the swell to reach him. It took about 10 minutes to arrive because of the conditions, the girls said.

Ellie MacCalman said she managed to pull Craven partway onto a paddle board and held him until her sister and their friend reached them. A passing boat then assisted and helped transfer Craven aboard. Once ashore, his wife Pam and their son David provided immediate care before paramedics took him to hospital. Craven has since been discharged and described himself as “eternally grateful” to his rescuers.

Craven said he had briefly feared the worst as cold water tightened its grip, and that a short prayer preceded the arrival of help. He noted that moving him into the safety boat must have been difficult because of his size.

Emergency services confirmed an ambulance conveyed the man to hospital after the incident. The families involved said there were no further reported injuries.

Rescues by recreational water-users have been increasingly reported around Britain’s coasts, where changing weather and tides can create hazardous conditions for small craft. Cold-water immersion can incapacitate a person within minutes, and maritime safety agencies advise carrying signalling equipment, wearing life jackets and maintaining close contact with shore-based services when sailing in exposed waters.

The three teenagers have been praised locally for their quick response. The women said they did not hesitate to help when they saw Craven in difficulty and credited teamwork and a passing boat for ensuring a safe outcome.