News / One fatality and two boats in trouble
A YOUNG man tragically lost his life on Saturday night at a bonfire beach party that went badly wrong.
Emergency services were called to West Voe beach, at Sumburgh, just before 10pm.
First on the scene to attend to the 19 year old was a paramedic from the nearby coastguard station, who had been alerted by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
The young man was then flown to the Gilbert Bain Hospital, in Lerwick, but was later pronounced dead.
It is understood that the young man, believed to be American, had gone into the icy water for a swim but got into difficulties.
Police in Lerwick said they were continuing to make enquiries and would not release any further details until all next of kin had been informed.
Later the same night Shetland Coastguard was tasked again when the small scallop boat Marea B with two crew on board went aground on rocks near the island of Linga, in Vaila Sound.
Aith lifeboat was called out at just before 1am and stood by during the night until the vessel came free again in the rising tide.
The Marea B returned to the pier at Walls with no damage reported. Aith lifeboat was back at station at 9.30am, on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, the Lerwick lifeboat, while out on exercise, came across the Shetland Bus vessel Heland, which had broken down at the back of Bressay, on Sunday morning.
The historic vessel with ten people on board was on her way back to Norway following last week’s celebrations when the new Scalloway Museum was opened by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
The lifeboat towed the Heland back to Lerwick for engine repairs.
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