Fishing Boat Sinks Off Coast Of Western Isles, Scotland, Leaving At Least Two Dead

One person has been found and taken to hospital.

Two bodies have been pulled from the sea after a fishing boat sank off the Western Isles of Scotland.

The coastguard received a distress alert just before 3.45am on Saturday, and the vessel's emergency positioning beacon was activated near Mingulay, the Press Association reported.

The vessel went down with four crew on board, but one was rescued and taken to hospital by helicopter.

A lifeboat and helicopter were continuing the search on Saturday, as one person remained missing.

The sent a distress signal off the coast of Mingulay
The sent a distress signal off the coast of Mingulay
David Forman via Getty Images

A Maritime & Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said the vessel went down in relatively calm weather conditions.

She said: "In the early hours of April 9 a fishing vessel sank off the Western Isles, Scotland, with four crew on board.

"The UK Coastguard received a distress alert just before 3.45 this morning when the fishing vessel's emergency positioning beacon (EPIRB) was activated near Mingulay.

"The coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Stornoway has been searching the area along with the Barra RNLI lifeboat.

"One crew member has been taken to hospital by the helicopter.

"The lifeboat remains in the area and the coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick has taken over so the search can continue."

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