Body of fisherman Douglas Craigie recovered as search continues for missing crew

Police Scotland confirmed that the body recovered at about 2.45 am on Wednesday belongs to 49-year-old fisherman Douglas Craigie. He was part of a three-person crew aboard the fishing vessel Kilda, which departed the Brevaig area on Tuesday around 7.30 am and was expected to work near the Port of Ness. While Craigie’s remains were retrieved, his fellow crew members, Norman Murray, 40, and Murdo Morrison, 23, have not yet been found, and the vessel itself remains missing.

The RNLI dispatched its all-weather lifeboat from Lochinver at 9.42 pm on Tuesday after the boat failed to return, and Police Scotland were alerted at 11.35 pm. Chief Inspector Ross McCartney said specialist support is being provided to the families and that searches are ongoing in partnership with the HM Coastguard, urging locals to avoid hazardous self-searches. Local officials, including Councillor Kenneth Macleod and First Minister John Swinney, expressed condolences and highlighted the challenging weather conditions hampering rescue efforts.