Search for Moray diver (64) continues in Pentland Firth
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Police say they are continuing to make enquiries after a diver went missing in the Pentland Firth on Tuesday evening.
A major search involving the coastguard, RNLI crews and private vessels was instigated when Grant Wright failed to return from a dive close to the island of Swona.
An appeal has been made for anybody with information about the missing 64-year-old, who is from the Moray area, to contact police.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said on Thursday: “Police searches and enquiries are continuing for a diver missing in the water near the island of Swona in Orkney.
“Officers were made aware that Grant Wright, aged 64, from the Moray area, was missing around 8.25pm on Tuesday, May 16.
“The diver’s family are being kept informed and supported by officers.
“Anyone with any information which could assist our enquiries is urged to contact 101, quoting incident number 3640 of May 16.”
The 22-hour search for Mr Wright was called off on Wednesday afternoon, HM Coastguard, which was coordinating the operation, confirmed.
It involved three coastguard helicopters from Sumburgh, Stornoway and Inverness, a coastguard aeroplane from Humberside and coastguard rescue teams from Scrabster, St Margaret’s Hope, Kirkwall and Dunoon.
Four RNLI all-weather lifeboats were sent to help from Longhope, Wick, Thurso and Stromness. Four private vessels were also involved, including the NorthLink ferry Hamnavoe and Pentland Venture.
The skipper of the John O’Groats Ferries-operated Pentland Venture told the John O'Groat Journal that passengers and crew were asked to look out for the missing diver on their service from Burwick to John O'Groats on Tuesday evening.
Ivor Thomas said: “I got all the passengers and the crew to keep a lookout on the way south to John O’Groats.
“Then we went out again with just the crew and joined in the search for a few hours. I think we got in at about a quarter past nine.”
“We’d have felt bad going back in and not looking. The flood tide had started by then as well, so there was some tide running by the time we were looking.
“At that point there were two lifeboats, and a third lifeboat came later on – possibly even a fourth lifeboat.”
Thurso lifeboat was launched at 9pm and didn’t get back to port at Scrabster until after 4am on Wednesday.
Thurso RNLI said in a statement: “Thurso RNLI lifeboat The Taylors was launched at 9pm on Tuesday to assist HM Coastguard in the search for a missing diver in the Pentland Firth. Once on scene, the lifeboat joined forces with coastguard helicopters from Sumburgh and Inverness, along with RNLI lifeboats from Longhope, Wick and Stromness.
“Other vessels also supported the search, including the Fair Isle and the marine protection vessel Jura. The Taylors returned to Scrabster at 4.11am and was refuelled and ready for service at 4.30am.”
A spokesperson for NorthLink Ferries said: “We can confirm that the MV Hamnavoe provided assistance, on Tuesday evening, in the search for the missing diver in the Pentland Firth.”
A spokesman for HM Coastguard said on Wednesday: “The search for an adult diver missing in the Pentland Firth has sadly been called off this afternoon after a comprehensive search was unable to locate him.
“HM Coastguard coordinated the operation for about 22 hours following the alarm being raised from a spot south-west of the island of Swona at about 6pm on Tuesday.”
