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Coastguard regulator rejects claims diver missing in water for 11 hours could have been found sooner

Claims a diver who was rescued after 11 hours at sea could have been found sooner if local advice had been followed have been rejected by the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The ruling comes after Ivan Doychev, a 40-year-old scallop diver, spent more than 11 hours in the Pentland Firth after being reported missing in May.

After Mr Doychev was found safe and well, local fishermen reported that rescuers had spent time searching in the wrong area and had been alerted a number of times to change course.

Ivan Doychev

However, the regulator found the operation to find Mr Doychev had used search planning software along with local knowledge and detailed information provided by lifeboat crews and fishermen.

The MCA said they were “grateful” concerned locals contacted them during the search, adding: “It was the right thing to do and we would encourage anyone with information on an incident to do exactly the same.”

The search covered a wide area from Dunnet Head out to the Pentland Skerries, around the Islands within the Pentland Firth and the southern entrance to Scapa Flow.

A Russian registered sail training vessel Yunyi Baltiets, who had been sailing up the east coast of Scotland, located Mr Doychev in the sea around two miles east of Duncansby Head and retrieved him from the water.

The vessel, which is understood to have had a doctor on board at the time of the discovery, reported that the diver was alive and in reasonable health.

Thurso search pattern for diver

Speaking at the time of the incident, Mr Doychev said he was “very appreciative” to have been found alive.

He said: “The first hour was terrible, the tide pushed me out and out and out – I was in the middle of the sea. The tides changed and I started to go back.

“I could see the choppers and boats. They were far away but I could see them so I knew they were looking for me, which kept me going.”

The diver, who lives in Orkney, added: “Maybe I’m lucky. All I did was stay positive. I did not panic. I knew not to panic and just keep swimming.”