A CHURCH minister wants more to be done to “bring home” the bodies of two fishermen whose boat capsized in a sea loch last month.
Duncan MacDougall and Przemek Krawczyk were on board the Nancy Glen when it got into trouble and sank in Loch Fyne, Argyll and Bute, on January 18.
A fundraising campaign to raise the prawn trawler from the bottom of the sea loch and recover the men’s bodies has so far raised well over £200,000.
Church of Scotland minister Rev John MacGregor said Duncan, the vessel’s skipper, was a dear friend whom he had known for most of his life.
MacGregor, who grew up in Tarbert, said the tragedy has devastated the village as he appealed to Kirk members in Scotland and further afield to donate what they can to the special fund to “bring the boys home”.
MacGregor, of Cadder Parish Church in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, said: “When I heard the news, it was hard to believe that trapped on board was a man whom I have known most of my life. Duncan MacDougall will be remembered as a great guy and an excellent football player.
“He played for a boys’ team which I managed over 30 years ago. He was a very outgoing and popular young man.”
He added that his friend – married with two young children – had “everything to live for”.
“He was a leader who touched so many lives.”
On the day of the tragedy, the alarm was raised by a third fisherman, who was pulled from the water by the crew of a passing boat.
The trawler is now thought to be sitting at a depth of 459ft near Barmore Island, with a sonar sweep of the area understood to have been carried out by marine accident investigators on Monday.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here