Man dies after falling overboard between Fraserburgh boats

A man died after falling between two fishing boats as they sheltered from high winds and stormy seas off Lerwick Harbour at the weekend.

Crew member of the Danish whitefish boat Tiede, Iain Herd from Keith in Banffshire, was killed as he attempted to make his way between the Fraserburgh-registered Sunrise and Lynden fishing boats, which were also tied up for the weather on Saturday night.

Mr Herd was trying to visit friends onboard one of the vessels when the accident happened.

The crew of the Bressay ferry Leirna heard an emergency call made to Shetland Coastguard by the Lynden and attended the scene at Albert Wharff.

They quickly launched the ferry’s rescue vessel and pulled the 44-year-old on board.

The Lerwick lifeboat and coastguard rescue team also attended the incident.

Mr Herd was taken by a waiting ambulance to the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick. However he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Tiede had just been towed to Lerwick after fouling her propeller 45 miles east of Unst.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. A report is being prepared for the procurator fiscal.