A 64-year-old swimmer has died after going for a dip in an Argyll loch.
The coastguard received a 999 call from the woman’s grandson just after 7.30pm on Thursday, reporting she was overdue from her swim at Loch Caolisport near Ormsary.
A search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick was sent to search, along with Crinan and Tarbert Coastguard rescue teams, Islay Lifeboat, and police.
The woman, who has not been named but is believed to be from the Helensburgh area, was located around 9pm and winched aboard the helicopter before being flown to Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban.
A police spokeswoman said that the woman was pronounced dead shortly after being admitted. There were no suspicious circumstances and the procurator fiscal will be informed.
Oban police had warned of the importance of water safety only earlier in the day on its Twitter account.
It stated: “All open water, including lochs, lakes, rivers etc present risks and dangers even to the strongest of swimmers.”
A spokeswoman for the coastguard said: “An extensive search was launched by HM Coastguard on July 5 when a woman was reported missing after going for a swim in a loch near Ormsary in Scotland.
“HM Coastguard received a 999 call just after 7.30pm, from the woman’s grandson who was worried when she hadn’t come back. The search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick was sent to search, along with Crinan and Tarbert Coastguard Rescue Teams, Islay RNLI lifeboat and Police Scotland.
“The woman was located and winched aboard the helicopter before being flown to Oban Hospital.”
Iain MacKinnon, station officer at Oban Coastguard Rescue Team, said: “This is a terrible tragedy.
“Even at this time of year the water is very cold and lochs and rivers are icy cold despite the warm weather.
“When we go into that environment we can be gripped by the cold, take cramp and be unable to look after ourselves and unable to swim back to shore.
“We don’t want people to stop enjoying themselves but the advice is to have someone with them on shore so that if they get into difficulties they can call for help, not to swim alone.
“Be conscious of where you are so that if you have to call for assistance you can tell the emergency services where you are in relation to the nearest road or village.”
