Crew in Lewis fishing boat tragedy named by police

Speaking at Westminster, Western Isles MP Torcuil Crichton paid tribute to coastguard, RNLI and police teams searching for the missing crew.

He said: “The Western Isles have been struck this week by maritime tragedy by the sinking of the fishing vessel, Kilda, in a Tuesday night storm off the coast of Lewis with what is feared to be the subsequent loss of three souls abroad.”

Crichton said his condolences went to the families involved, and to other fishing communities that had suffered losses over the years.

On Wednesday, Kenneth Macleod, convener of local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live programme: “It is a very dark day for the community of Ness and the community of Lewis in general.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the families affected.

“We cannot comprehend what the families of the three fishermen are going through at the moment.”

In a message on X, First Minister John Swinney said: “This is deeply distressing news.

“My heart goes out to the families of the three fishermen in Ness, and the communities on the Isle of Lewis.”