A 63-year-old prawn fisherman has tragically died at a sea loch in the West Highlands.
A massive rescue operation was launched after the alarm was raised at Loch Shieldaig in Wester Ross at around 8.30am.
The body of a man, named locally as father-of-two Duncan Matheson, was later pulled from the water and pronounced dead at the scene.
It is understood the fisherman had set off from Ardheslaig port with a colleague in a small dinghy and ventured onto the loch to reach their bigger prawn fishing boat.
However, it was when the 63-year-old was attempting to cross that he is believed to have slipped fallen into the water.
The Stornoway-based Coastguard search-and-rescue helicopter was called to the scene, alongside the Applecross, Gairloch and Loch Ewe Coastguard Rescue Teams and Portree and Kyle lifeboats.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, although the death is not believed to be suspicious.
“His next of kin are aware and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal in due course.”
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Councillor Derek Macleod led the tributes, saying: “They are both well-known, well-liked local fishermen and this news is just tragic.
“They had gone out from Ardheslaig in a dinghy to a bigger boat, but one of them slipped and fell, and tragically drowned.
“Locals are saying this has cast a real cloud over the village, particularly after another fisherman in Applecross died just last year.
“It is always such a shock when someone goes out to work in the morning and does not come back in the evening.
“I express my sympathies to the family.”
Other tributes were paid on social media. Steve Carter said: “We lost another fisherman this morning. Two in a year, both out at sea. RIP Duncan.”
EdgeofMull added: “Terrible news. I know how hard it hits small communities and his family and the people of Shieldaig will be in our thoughts.”
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch was informed about the tragedy.
Last year, Alasdair Macleod, 57, a third generation prawn fisherman and a well-known figure in the community of Applecross, died in another fishing accident.
His boat, Varuna, was spotted aground with its engine running on November 20. His body was found three weeks later.
