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Gairloch canoe capsize: Hopes fade for man missing after two boys die Gairloch canoe capsize: Father missing after his two young sons die
(35 minutes later)
The search is continuing for a man feared to have died alongside two young boys after a canoe capsized on a sea loch in the north west Highlands. The search is continuing for a man feared to have died alongside his two young sons after a canoe capsized on a sea loch in the north west Highlands.
Six people were in the boat when it overturned in the Gairloch on Sunday afternoon. Another man and a girl, 8, swam to shore and raised the alarm. Six people were in the boat when it overturned in the Gairloch on Sunday afternoon. Another man and his eight-year-old daughter swam to shore.
The boys, aged three and five, died after being airlifted to hospital. The brothers, aged three and five, died after being airlifted to hospital.
A girl also aged five remains in a serious condition at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.A girl also aged five remains in a serious condition at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow.
The boys were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and the girl to Broadford Hospital on Skye. She was later transferred by helicopter to the Sick Kids Hospital. Her parents are with her. Those on board the canoe were members of two families who had been on a day trip from their homes in the Black Isle.
Northern Constabulary later confirmed that the boys had both died. It is understood the eight-year-old girl reached the shore shortly before her father, at about 16:15, and managed to alert the coastguard.
Her five-year-old sister was initially taken to Broadford Hospital on Skye before later being transferred by helicopter to the Sick Kids Hospital. Her parents are with her.
The boys were taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, but Northern Constabulary later confirmed they had both died.
The search resumed at 08:00 for the 32-year-old man who is still missing, but hopes of finding him alive have faded and the coastguard said it was now being treated as a recovery - rather than a rescue - mission.The search resumed at 08:00 for the 32-year-old man who is still missing, but hopes of finding him alive have faded and the coastguard said it was now being treated as a recovery - rather than a rescue - mission.
It is understood those on board the canoe were members of two families who had been on a day trip from elsewhere in the Highlands.
Carol Collins, Stornoway Coastguard Watch Manager, said: "The weather is less favourable for searching today than yesterday but units have been out searching since first light.Carol Collins, Stornoway Coastguard Watch Manager, said: "The weather is less favourable for searching today than yesterday but units have been out searching since first light.
"Sadly at this stage the search and rescue phase has now moved to a recovery mission.""Sadly at this stage the search and rescue phase has now moved to a recovery mission."
It is understood the eight-year-old girl was first to reach the shore at about 16:15, and managed to alert the coastguard.
A coastguard helicopter and lifeboats from Portree, Gairloch and Loch Ewe launched a rescue operation in water close to the Big Sands caravan park.A coastguard helicopter and lifeboats from Portree, Gairloch and Loch Ewe launched a rescue operation in water close to the Big Sands caravan park.
The coastguard believes the canoe capsized several hundred metres from the shoreline, between a small island and the beach.The coastguard believes the canoe capsized several hundred metres from the shoreline, between a small island and the beach.
It is understood two of the children were pulled from the water by lifeboat crews. The third was lifted by helicopter from the shore. James Cameron, 34, who co-runs the Big Sands caravan and camping site, said he and a friend managed to locate the five-year-old girl after becoming involved in the rescue operation on Sunday.
The Big Sands campsite owner, who was one of the first on the scene, told BBC Scotland that he took his own boat onto the water after being alerted to the incident. He said: "I happened to be out in the boat yesterday when I heard there was an incident. We were just coming in and heard there was a girl missing, so we went out and actually found her.
He said conditions were not bad, and he would be surprised if weather had been a factor. "We found her face down, she was unconscious. She had her buoyancy aid on, it was keeping her afloat but it wasn't keeping her head out the water.
Jamie Ralston of Stornoway Coastguard, who helped coordinate the rescue operation, also confirmed that weather conditions had been good at the time of the incident. "We took her in and we did try our best to resuscitate her. The coastguard helicopter then picked her up off the boat and took her away to Broadford Hospital."
Mr Cameron said the incident has left the local community stunned. "Everyone is devastated," he added.
Jamie Ralston of Stornoway Coastguard, who helped coordinate the rescue operation, confirmed that weather conditions had been good at the time of the incident.
He added: "It was a nice, clear, sunny day with a little offshore breeze.He added: "It was a nice, clear, sunny day with a little offshore breeze.
"The family were out in a Canadian canoe, six of them - two adults and four kids - and unfortunately it has capsized.""The family were out in a Canadian canoe, six of them - two adults and four kids - and unfortunately it has capsized."
The 36-year-old man and eight-year-old girl who swam to shore were uninjured.
Local fishing boats and onshore coastguard teams assisted with the rescue efforts on Sunday, and were due to rejoin the search operation on Monday.Local fishing boats and onshore coastguard teams assisted with the rescue efforts on Sunday, and were due to rejoin the search operation on Monday.
Northern Constabulary said the group were in a Canadian canoe - a narrow boat designed to carry numerous passengers.Northern Constabulary said the group were in a Canadian canoe - a narrow boat designed to carry numerous passengers.
BBC Scotland reporter Jackie O'Brien, who is at the scene, told the Good Morning Scotland programme police were still trying to piece together exactly what had happened, although their priority was to look for the man who remains missing.BBC Scotland reporter Jackie O'Brien, who is at the scene, told the Good Morning Scotland programme police were still trying to piece together exactly what had happened, although their priority was to look for the man who remains missing.
She said an eyewitness told her conditions on the loch had been "very calm" on Sunday, and many families who were on holiday there had been enjoying the warm conditions on the beach.She said an eyewitness told her conditions on the loch had been "very calm" on Sunday, and many families who were on holiday there had been enjoying the warm conditions on the beach.
She added: "Obviously this is a very popular campsite known as the Big Sands, and there were a lot of people - locals and visitors - around yesterday.She added: "Obviously this is a very popular campsite known as the Big Sands, and there were a lot of people - locals and visitors - around yesterday.
"But this is a sea loch and it is tidal, and conditions on it can change at a moment's notice. Local people do warn of the under currents in these waters that can take leisure craft by surprise."But this is a sea loch and it is tidal, and conditions on it can change at a moment's notice. Local people do warn of the under currents in these waters that can take leisure craft by surprise.
"So we understand that the six would have required to be wearing life jackets but there is no indication yet of exactly what happened". "So we understand that the six would have required to be wearing life jackets but there is no indication yet of exactly what happened."