A fishing community in mourning is reaching out to everyone from Paul McCartney to the band Kasabian in a campaign to “bring our boys home”.
Prawn trawler the Nancy Glen sank a week ago near Barmore Island at Tarbert, Loch Fyne, with the loss of two men.
Survivor John Miller was rescued by a passing boat but it is feared his crewmates Duncan MacDougall and Przemek Krawczyk are still trapped aboard the boat, which has come to rest at a depth of 328ft.
The local Argyll community is raising funds and awareness in a campaign to help the families, with both men leaving young families. The hashtag #TT100bringourboyshome is being shared like wildfire.
An investigation into the tragedy is currently underway by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), the body which will decide whether to lift the boat as part of its probe.
It could decide that this is not necessary, so the Clyde Fishermen’s Association is fundraising to help pay for the boat to be raised, should this be required.
However chairman Kenneth MacNab has said he would rather see all of the money go towards helping the families, with the authorities taking responsibility for lifting the boat, the cost of which could run into hundreds of thousand of pounds.
So far a crowdfunding campaign has raised in excess of £103,000, with more, larger donations from businesses coming in separately.
Using social media, friends of the families involved have contacted celebrities asking for their help in sharing details of the campaign.
Members of the band Kasabian, a big favourite of Mr MacDougall, have been contacted and asked to give their support.
Another friend has contacted Paul McCartney, who famously sang about his love for the area, Mull of Kintyre.
Philip Schofield, who visited Tarbert last summer, has also been contacted via social media and Rangers Football Club has pledged its support.
Elaine Whyte, executive secretary of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association, said: “Even if the MAIB decide not to raise it themselves, they are the body which would give permission for it to be raised.
“That process can take six months. In this case the families can look out of their homes and see where it happened, as an act of compassion we are hoping the MAIB might speed the process up a bit.
“We have had great support from MSPs Mike Russell and Fergus Ewing and MP Brendan O’Hara.”
