Fisherman found dead and two crewmates still missing as Lewis boat Kilda vanishes off Ness

A fisherman has died and two of his crewmates are still missing after their boat disappeared off the northern tip of the Isle of Lewis, in a tragedy that has left a close-knit island community in shock.

Police Scotland said the body recovered during the search has been identified as that of 49-year-old Douglas Craigie. He was part of the crew of the fishing boat Kilda, which was last known to be working close to the Port of Ness.

His two crewmates, Norman Murray, 40, who is known as Tam, and Murdo Morrison, 23, remain unaccounted for and are being treated as missing people. All three men are from Lewis. The vessel itself has not been found, and searches are continuing.

A day's fishing that never ended

The Kilda is believed to have sailed from Brevaig, on the west coast of Lewis, at about 07:30 on Tuesday 13 October, before heading north to fish in the waters around Ness.

It was reported overdue when it failed to return that evening. The RNLI launched its all-weather lifeboat from Lochinver at 21:42, and Police Scotland were notified at 23:35.

HM Coastguard co-ordinated a large operation through the night. An aircraft, two helicopters, six coastguard rescue teams and a local vessel joined the search. Mr Craigie's body was recovered in the area at about 02:45 on Wednesday.

Rescuers have since worked in strong gusts and heavy rain, conditions that have made searching the coastline and open water both slow and dangerous.

'A very dark day'

Chief Inspector Ross McCartney, the local area commander for the Western Isles, said: "Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic incident."

He said the families of all three men were being given specialist support while searches continued, and asked that their privacy be respected. Officers were working closely with HM Coastguard and the RNLI to find the boat and the two missing men.

The police chief also issued a direct warning to local people who want to help. "Conditions are very challenging and I would urge people not to put themselves at any risk," he said. "Please do not attempt to carry out searches in areas which put you at risk of harm."

Anyone with information has been asked to call 101, quoting incident 3575 of 13 October. A police presence will remain in the Port of Ness area.

Kenneth Macleod, convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Western Isles council, said it was "a very dark day for the communities affected by this tragedy".

"We can't even begin to comprehend what the families of the three fishermen are going through at this moment," he said, thanking the crews searching in what he called very challenging weather.

First Minister John Swinney described the news as "deeply distressing", adding: "My heart goes out to the families of the three fishermen in Ness, and the communities on the Isle of Lewis."

An island bound to the sea

Ness, at the far north of Lewis, is among the most exposed parts of the British coastline. Its harbour faces the open Atlantic and the Minch, where autumn gales can build quickly and swells run high.

Fishing has shaped life there for generations. Small inshore boats, often crewed by relatives, neighbours or friends, remain an important part of the local economy, landing shellfish and white fish that sustain jobs ashore as well as at sea.

That is why a loss of this kind reaches far beyond the families directly involved. In a community of this size, almost everyone is likely to know at least one of the men aboard the Kilda.

Fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the UK. Investigators routinely examine factors such as weather, stability and safety equipment after vessels are lost, and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch is typically informed when a commercial boat goes down. No cause has been suggested for the Kilda's disappearance.

What happens next

For now, the priority remains finding Mr Murray, Mr Morrison and their boat. Police said searches would continue alongside the coastguard and lifeboat crews for as long as conditions allow.

Churches and community groups across Lewis have been offering support to the families. Islanders, who have watched helicopters criss-crossing the sky above Ness since Tuesday night, say they are holding on to hope.

The focus, as the police put it, is on giving answers to three families who are waiting for news – and on keeping anyone else from coming to harm on a dangerous stretch of sea.