By Chris Ferguson

LIFEBOAT MEN and fishermen saved two construction workers from the sea off Arbroath yesterday morning following an industrial accident.

The platform they were working on plunged into the water on the seaward side of the breakwater after the crane supporting it capsized shortly after 11 am.

The men were still wearing safety harnesses tied to the platform cage when they hit the sea. One man managed to free himself quickly but the second, a non-swimmer, was dragged below the surface.

Arbroath man Davey Reid, who saw the incident from the Back of the Heids, alerted skipper John Cargill of the Gemini, who was in the inner harbour preparing his boat.

Mr Cargill was joined by Arbroath Fishermen’s Association president Brian Beckett and his brother Alan and set off in the Gemini to rescue the men.

At the same time, crew from Arbroath lifeboat station, who were hosting a photocall for the Singing Kettle, noticed the plight of the crane and the signalling from Mr Reid.

The Gemini was first on the scene and managed to pull one man out of the water. Next there was Arbroath’s inshore lifeboat with coxswain Tommy Yule, mechanic Alan Russell and Donald Yule on board.

While the Gemini headed back to harbour with the first injured man, the inshore crew battled to rescue the second.

Mr Cargill took the first man to the casualty department at Arbroath Infirmary, lifeboat men said.

Mr Yule said the non-swimmer was in a very dangerous situation. He had managed to release his safety harness but was going under when they arrived.

“He panicked because he was pinned down in the cage. It was a real shock for him and must have been terrifying,” said Mr Yule.

“He was going down and was afraid of the cage trapping him. When we arrived he had managed to get his safety harness off.”

Lifeboat crew took the man to the new leisure vessel pontoons being built in the inner harbour where he received treatment from paramedics before being taken to Arbroath Infirmary.

A photocall for Singing Kettle stars Artie Trezise, his wife Cilla Fisher and Gary and Kevin who were in Arbroath to launch their tour, Deep Sea Adventures had to be abandoned as the drama unfolded.

Crew from the station had moved the main boat, Inchape, on to the slipway to allow the children’s entertainers to stage the photocall.

But all available hands were needed when the real-life deep sea adventure began. The Inchape was winched back into the station while Artie and bystanders helped wheel the inshore boat on to the slip. The entertainers then had to ensure a tense wait while the workers were rescued from the sea.

Afterwards Artie said, “It is a huge relief that both men appear to have escaped with minor injuries. That was a nail-biting period waiting for news.”

“Not for a moment did we think when we arranged to visit the lifeboat crew that we would see a real call-out.

“The men acted with speed and professionalism.”

RNLI mascot, Stormy Stan, had to ditch his costume to join the rescue effort.

The rescued men had been part of a small team carrying out repairs on the breakwater.

Contractor Torith of Dundee had built a temporary road to the end of the breakwater which allowed access at low tide. A platform attached to a crane had been lowered to allow the men to undertake masonry work on the breakwater.

However, the crane toppled, plunging forward with the jib lowered towards the sea and the tracks exposed.

Graham Lindsay, director of support services with Torith, confirmed the rescued men were working for the firm.

“At this moment, I can’t really say anything. It is under investigation by ourselves,’’ said Mr Lindsay. He added that the matter was reported by Torith to the Health and Safety Executive.