Dog is RNLI's new best friend

Dog and four holiday makers from Leicestershire rescued on Loch Ness.

Drumnadrochit based RNLI volunteers launched to assist a group of four holidaymakers and their pet dog after their cruiser runs aground near Foyers. RNLI Loch Ness lifeboat crew, Neil Stebbings, Joy Cameron and Martin Douglas took the Atlantic 75 lifeboat, B707 Mercurius, to the scene at the mouth of the River foyers. Tourist vessel, Ness Express, skippered by Rory Brown had been keeping a watch on the cruiser until the arrival of the RNLI lifeboat.

RNLI crew member Neil Stebbings boarded the cruiser to check on the well being of the holidaymakers and to confirm that the vessel was still watertight. All was well and the cruiser was towed free and into open water before being escorted to the pier at Foyers.

Loch Ness RNLI Volunteer, Neil Stebbings says: 'The cruiser had struck a shingle bank that was covered due to the loch surface having been raised by recent heavy rainfall.'
He added: 'The holidaymakers and even the dog had life jackets on and vital reassurance was given by having Rory in Ness Express on scene until we arrived, our thanks, once again, go to the team at Cruise Loch Ness in Fort Augustus.'

Aberdeen Coastguard team directed the rescue and coordinated resources whilst keeping the holidaymakers informed of proceedings

A video of the rescue can be viewed here