An experienced third-generation fisherman who fell off his boat and drowned was likely to have been pulled into the sea as he was working on his creels, Portree Sheriff Court heard yesterday.
A fatal accident inquiry was told that former community council chairman Alasdair Macleod, 57, from Applecross, was not wearing a life jacket, had no flotation device and no personal alarm on day he “fell overboard”.
A full-scale sea search for the popular community fisherman took place for three days after his small single-handed boat, the Varuna, was spotted lying empty with its engine running, near to Aird-Dhubh pier at 2.15pm on November 20, 2017, by a passing pilot. Mr Macleod’s body was not found until three weeks later at Staffin Bay.
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In his findings, Procurator Fiscal Geoff Main, said he believed Mr Macleod had fallen overboard before the boat ran aground between 2pm and 2.15pm.
He said Mr Macleod was at risk, as he was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), and he could not be found quickly because he was not carrying a personal locator beacon (PLB).
Mr Main said he believed that Mr Macleod may have “fallen overboard while returning to the mooring”, he said he believed there may have been an accident involving “a cut-out shooting gate” that had not been replaced.
The court heard evidence from Marine Investigation Officer, Robert Cranston, of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, he said: “The boat was last surveyed by the MCA on September 21 2012, a Small Fishing Vessel certificate had not been issued, pending Alasdair’s registration of his VHF5 radio, which the MCA pursued until 2014.
“Mr Macleod had not completed the annual self-certification declarations required in accordance with those regulations.
In a report, read out in court, it stated: “Mr Macleod played an important role in the local community, as director of the Pier Users Association, chairman of the Community Council, and director of the Apple Juice (Applecross) Community Benefit Society, through which the community built and owned a hydro-electric scheme.”
The report into the accident concluded: “The slot-in transom door had not been fitted following shooting and, with no means of fall prevention in use, there was an increased risk of Mr Macleod falling overboard through the shooting gate in the transom, and it is possible that he did so.”
Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald expressed her condolences to Mr Macleod’s wife and sons and to the community where he had lived. She said: “I hope to have my determination in this matter as soon as possible.”
