By Andrew Jarret

AN ARBROATH fisherman was plucked from his stricken fishing boat yesterday just seconds before it capsized and then sank just off the town’s harbour.

Bob Teviotdale was clinging desperately to the side of his overturned and rapidly sinking Northern Star when he was hauled to safety by the crew of the fishing vessel Shamara.

With sea temperatures estimated at 4-5C it would have taken only a few minutes’ immersion in the rough swell for the situation to have potentially tragic consequences.

The drama was witnessed by local RNLI members who were scanning the choppy seas from the window at the town’s lifeboat shed at the time.

An eyewitness said that it appeared that Mr Teviotdale’s creels may have shifted violently to one side of the boat in the swell as he was preparing to return to the harbour at around 1pm.

“The boat went over to port,” the eyewitness said.

“It seemed to recover then went right over to starboard. At that point it was obvious he was in extreme trouble.”

Both Arbroath lifeboats were immediately launched in a bid to help Mr Teviotdale and try and save his boat.

Fortunately, the Shamara was working nearby and was able to come to his rescue within moments of his boat turning over.

The shocked and wet fisherman was somehow managing to cling to the side of his boat in near freezing temperatures as it quickly filled with water.

Despite early warning of the drama at the lifeboat shed, only the point of the Northern Star’s bow was visible when RNLI rescue crews reached the sinking boat.

The crew of the inshore lifeboat made valiant attempts to recover some of the doomed vessel’s gear and were in fact able to collect a few items.

Unfortunately there was nothing they could do for the Northern Star and it quickly disappeared beneath the waves in around 13 metres of water.

A shaken Mr Teviotdale went home for a warming shower and to inform family members he was OK, before returning to thank those who had come to his aid and arrange to try and have his boat recovered.

Forth coastguard Bob Abercrombie said that the incident occurred just north of the leading light, about half a kilometre from the entrance to the harbour.

“The main thing is the fisherman, who was the sole occupant, is safe,” he said.

“Fortunately he was able to alert the Shamara himself that he was in trouble and they were in a position to help him.

“He was obviously a bit cold, wet and shocked but otherwise fine and did not require any medical attention.”

The position of the sunken boat in the entrance channel to Arbroath harbour has caused the coastguard to issue a navigational warning to other vessels in the area.

“She’s lying in a bit of an awkward position and I understand that the skipper is investigating the possibility of having her brought up,” said Mr Abercrombie.

“We have really bad weather forecast over the next few days which could cause serious damage to the boat.

“Hopefully she can be brought up and recovered but our main concern is that a life was saved.”