Full Breakdown
Missing Fishing Vessel Kilda off Isle of Lewis: One Fatality, Two Still Missing
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
On October 13, 2026, the three-man crew of the fishing boat Kilda left the village of Brevaig on the west coast of Lewis at about 07:30 a.m. to work in the waters off the Port of Ness. The vessel, crewed by Douglas Craigie (49), Norman Murray (40, known as Tam) and Murdo Morrison (23), failed to return and was reported overdue at approximately 21:20 p.m. that evening.
Search Operations and Weather Challenges
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) activated an emergency response that included a Beech King Air 350 aircraft departing Prestwick, two helicopters, six coastguard rescue teams, two RNLI lifeboats (the Stornoway all-weather lifeboat launched at 21:42 p.m. and later joined by Lochinver’s all-weather lifeboat), a local boat and Police Scotland personnel.
Searches continued into the following morning despite gale-force winds and a Met Office yellow warning for the Highlands and Western Isles, which forecast gusts of up to 70 mph (113 km/h) and warned of possible travel disruptions and power cuts.
Identified Victim and Ongoing Missing Crew
A body recovered in the search area at about 02:45 a.m. on October 14 was later identified as Douglas Craigie. Formal identification has not yet been completed. His two crewmates, Norman Murray and Murdo Morrison, remain unaccounted for and are being treated as missing persons.
Official Statements
Police Scotland confirmed that the body of one man has been recovered while formal identification is pending. The force also noted that the next of kin have been notified and are receiving support.
The RNLI emphasized that “extensive searches, assisted by HM Coastguard and RNLI, are ongoing.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “The body of one of the men has been recovered, however formal identification is yet to take place.” — Police Scotland
- “Extensive searches, assisted by HM Coastguard and RNLI, are ongoing.” — The RNLI
- “The search, involving coastguard air and ground assets, was joined by Lochinver RNLI's all-weather lifeboat a short time later and continued into Wednesday morning.” — Police Scotland spokesperson
Data & Statistics
- Vessel: Kilda (fishing boat)
- Crew: three men, all local to the Isle of Lewis
- Dates: departure 07:30 a.m. Oct 13 2026; overdue alarm 21:20 p.m. Oct 13; body recovered 02:45 a.m. Oct 14
- Assets deployed: one MCA fixed-wing aircraft, two helicopters, six coastguard rescue teams, two RNLI lifeboats, local boat, Police Scotland units
Impact and Ongoing Efforts
The incident has prompted a coordinated multi-agency response under challenging weather conditions, highlighting the risks faced by small-scale fishers in the Outer Hebrides. Search operations remain active, with authorities continuing to monitor weather updates and maintain contact with the families of the missing crew members.
