Teenager Rescues Two Men from Inflatable Boat Off Isle of Skye
Archie Law, 15, sailed his own boat to rescue two men who had fallen from an inflatable toy boat off the Isle of Skye, arriving before the lifeboat service.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the UK coastguard received reports around 9pm of "two males in difficulty in the water" off Broadford Bay.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) promptly launched a lifeboat from its Kyle of Lochalsh station within 10 minutes of the emergency call and proceeded at "best speed" to the last known location of the men, who were last seen on what rescuers described as "a toy blow-up inflatable boat."
While en route, the crew was informed that Archie, a local 15-year-old, had spotted the men in distress and had gone out alone in his own boat to assist them.
Upon arrival, the RNLI crew found that Archie had already rescued both men and safely returned them to shore.
After confirming that all individuals involved were safe and uninjured, the lifeboat returned to its station to be cleaned, refuelled, and prepared for further service.
Eyewitness Account from Archie Law
Archie described noticing the men from his home:
"I could see them from my window and they were paddling in circles out in the bay, drifting further away.
"I made a decision to go and check if they were OK. As I got closer I could see it was a small kids’ dinghy.
"They seemed very cold and tired and thankful I had spotted them. I got them back to the wee pier and they were met with towels and warm clothes."
RNLI Response and Safety Advice
Andrew MacDonald, helm at Kyle RNLI, commended Archie for his swift action, stating that his decisiveness helped avert a more serious situation.
"We’d like to remind people that blow-up inflatable toys should be kept for use in swimming pools and not open water, and to always ensure that you have lifejackets on and a means of communicating to the emergency services if you get into any difficulty."
A heatwave is expected across the UK this week. During a hot spell in May, at least 15 people died after encountering difficulties in open water.
Despite warm weather, sea temperatures remain cold enough year-round to cause cold water shock, which can trigger uncontrollable gasping and increased heart rate, potentially leading to panic and drowning.
Ross Macleod, RNLI water safety manager, advised:
"Anyone who finds themselves in danger in the water should fight the panic instinct and ‘float to live’ – try to relax and float on their back, with head tilted back, gently moving their hands and legs to help them stay afloat. This buys valuable time to get your breathing back under control, before then calling for help or swimming to safety."
