Scotland
Coffin onboard a yacht bound for Oslo
Scottish Authorities assured cargo was "empty"
Barra RNLI lifeboat assisted a lost yacht with an empty coffin aboard during the early hours of the morning.
The yacht was on passage from the USA to Norway, but due to bad weather the skipper was forced to make for Barra. Unsure of the nearest harbour, the skipper requested assistance from the Coastguard who asked Barra RNLI lifeboat to launch at 3.30am this morning.
Angus MacNeil, Mechanic of Barra RNLI lifeboat says:
'Seeing a coffin aboard a boat is not your normal everyday occurrence.
Barra RNLI lifeboat responded to the request from the Coastguard at 3.30am and proceeded to the yacht, which was six miles south west of Barra Head. We escorted the yacht to the Sound of Berneray where a tow was established to allow us to take the yacht back to Castlebay.'
Skipper Jeffrey Kane, from Florida, USA says:
The coffin, which is empty, is bound for a bar in Oslo. I ended up near Barra as poor weather forced me to choose between heading south or west, which I wasnt going to do. I wasn't sure of where was best to head for and so contacted the Coastguard for assistance. The Barra RNLI lifeboat crew are great, incredible, real good people who towed me to the nearest harbour. I am in Barra for another day and will head off tomorrow.
