A ferry passenger was rescued from the Firth of Lorne between Mull and Oban thanks to the quick actions of a CalMac crew.
The drama began when the man fell overboard from MV Isle of Mull shortly before 2pm during its 46 minute crossing from Craignure, Mull to Oban.
The ferry had left Mull at 1.30pm.
Passengers were alerted by three loud blasts of the horn, followed by an announcement that a man was overboard.
Those on the top deck of the ferry were asked to try to help pinpoint the man in the water.
The ferry crew launched the ship’s fast rescue craft, a rigid inflatable boat able to be deployed quickly to cope with an incident of this nature.
Minutes later, the Oban lifeboat, Trent Class All Weather Mora Edith Macdonald, was also launched.
When it arrived on scene, the casualty was then transferred to the lifeboat and taken ashore.
Stornoway coastguard was alerted, and mobilised its Prestwick search and rescue helicopter.
A coastguard spokeswoman said: “Following the ferry’s Mayday broadcast several nearby vessels responded and assisted in the search.
“The casualty was located by one of the responding vessels and was recovered from the water by the fast rescue craft from the ferry MV Clansman.”
The casualty was then transferred by a waiting ambulance on to Lorn and Islands Hospital just outside Oban.
Police say he is not thought to have life-threatening injuries.
