Body recovered and two missing after fishing vessel incident off Outer Hebrides

A man's body has been recovered while two other men remain missing after a fishing vessel was reported missing on Tuesday night, amid yellow weather warnings in the area. Police Scotland was alerted around 11:35 PM on Tuesday to reports of a missing boat off the coast of Port of Ness, Isle of Lewis. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) stated that the alarm was first raised around 9:20 PM after the boat failed to reach its destination. Formal identification of the body has not yet taken place, though it is believed that he was the skipper. The other two men are thought to be crew members. The families of all three men have been informed and are being supported by officers. A plane, two helicopters, six coastguard rescue teams, two RNLI lifeboats, a local boat, and Police Scotland are all involved in the search efforts. Western Isles Council convener Kenneth Macleod noted that all three men were locals to Lewis. Mr. Macleod, who represents An Taobh Siar Agus Nis, which covers the Ness, stated that the men were believed to have been fishing between the Port of Ness and the Butt of Lewis. He described the situation as a tragedy and expressed condolences to the families and friends. He also paid tribute to the coastguard teams, lifeboat crews, and other rescue service members, highlighting the challenging conditions they faced. The men are thought to have been on a creel boat that typically fishes for shellfish, such as crabs and lobsters. The Met Office issued a yellow warning for the region, predicting gusts reaching up to 70 mph in parts of the Highlands and Western Isles. Strong winds, heavy rain, and warm air are expected as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias, which impacted the southern US on Saturday, reach the UK. The last major tragedy in the Western Isles occurred when the MFV Louisa sank off the island of Mingulay, south of Barra, on April 9, 2016, marking the worst fishing disaster in the region for over 50 years. Three individuals died in that incident, while one survived after swimming ashore.