17 rescued after fishing boat runs aground off Orkney following Mayday call

A major rescue operation was launched off Orkney after a fishing vessel carrying 17 people ran aground near the island of Hoy and issued a Mayday alert.

The emergency call was made at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, prompting a large response involving the Coastguard, RNLI and Royal Air Force.

The Stromness RNLI lifeboat, Coastguard helicopters from Sumburgh and Stornoway, and rescue teams from Kirkwall and St Margaret’s Hope were sent to the scene. An RAF maritime patrol aircraft and other vessels also joined the operation.

Rough seas made it unsafe for lifeboat crews to evacuate those onboard by sea, with a westerly swell breaking over the stranded vessel.

All 17 people were instead airlifted by helicopter and taken to Kirkwall Airport.

Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service also attended, while specialist Coastguard towing and pollution-response teams were deployed to the area.