Oban Lifeboat was called to three separate incidents in a day, at the same time as participating in a multi-agency exercise, on what turned into a hectic weekend.
Saturday was the busiest day of the year so far for the lifeboat, starting with a multi-agency demonstration at Oban Airport, simulating a crashed aircraft.
The volunteer crew was training with many other local emergency services including police, fire and coastguard.
Not long after returning to the station, Stornoway Coastguard asked them to rendezvous with Tobermory Lifeboat in Loch Aline.
Two divers had made a rapid ascent whilst diving near Calve Island, close to Tobermory.
They were suspected of suffering from decompression sickness, commonly known as “the bends”. The divers were subsequently transferred to Oban Lifeboat, which took them to the town for hospital treatment.
The Oban Lifeboat crew was alongside the pontoons in Loch Aline at 1.45pm, awaiting the arrival of Tobermory Lifeboat, when Stornoway Coastguard asked some members to depart the loch and travel to Fort William, where a passenger vessel had reported a suspected fire in their engine room.
Tobermory Lifeboat took the two divers into Oban and transferred them to a waiting ambulance which conveyed them to Oban, Lorn and the Isles Hospital for further treatment.
Meanwhile, Oban Lifeboat was travelling at full speed towards Fort William where the passenger vessel with 16 people on board has reported the fire.
Fortunately, the vessel had managed to make its own way back to Fort William where it was met by Fort William Coast Rescue Team and the fire service.
Oban Lifeboat was stood down and the crew proceeded back to Oban. But, just 15 minutes later, they were tasked once again by Stornoway Coastguard in response to a “Mayday” call.
A 9ft10in inflatable vessel with two people on board was struggling in adverse weather conditions one mile south of the Isle of Kerrera.
Tobermory Lifeboat, which was leaving Oban after the previous incident was involved in the operation. And CalMac ferries, Clansman and Hebridean Isles, also diverted to the scene, along with several other privately-owned vessels.
The two people were recovered to Tobermory lifeboat and transferred to Oban Lifeboat shortly afterwards. They and their boat were taken to Easdale where they were then able to make their way to shore.
