(Image: Police Scotland)
More than £6,000 has been raised to help the families of a man who died and two others missing following the disappearance of a fishing boat off the coast of a Scottish island.
The Kilda went missing on Tuesday October 13, near Port of Ness, on the north coast of the Isle of Lewis.
The body of Douglas Craigie, 49, was recovered from the sea at about 2.45am on Wednesday, October 14, but his crewmates Norman Murray, 40, and Murdo Morrison, 23, have not yet been found and neither has the vessel.
Major searches have been carried out but were paused on Sunday because of sea conditions and anchoring challenges.
The Western Isles Fishermen’s Association has set up a GoFundMe appeal to support the families of those affected which they said include young children.
The fishing boat went missing off the coast near Port of Ness on the Isle of Lewis (Alamy/PA)
In a post on GoFundMe the association said: “This unimaginable tragedy has had a devastating impact on the whole community, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the three men. We pray that Tam and Murdo are found.”
It added: “The Western Isles Fishermen’s Association wants to do all it can to assist these families at this time and in the future.
“It has engaged with the communities of Carloway, Barvas, Ness and Stornoway in identifying key individuals who will ensure that all the families who have suffered, due to one of the worst sea tragedies in the Isle of Lewis for a generation, will be supported for the future.
“Please donate so that these families and their children are supported through the tough and challenging times ahead.”
So far more than £6,000 has been raised towards a target of £8,000.
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The RNLI sent its all-weather Lochinver lifeboat out at 9.42pm on Tuesday after the boat failed to return, and Police Scotland were notified of its disappearance at 11.35pm.
HM Coastguard said an aircraft, two helicopters, six rescue teams and a local vessel were involved in the search.
On Sunday police said they had identified an “area of interest” off the coast of the Ness and efforts were made to carry out further inquiries there.
However sea conditions and anchoring challenges had an impact on the deployment of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) deployment and authorities had to suspend search efforts there.
It is not known when the search will resume.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch put an exclusion zone in place for divers in an area between the Butt of Lewis and Port of Ness.
The GoFundMe can be found at: www.gofundme.com/f/raise-funds-for-the-families-affected-by-the-kilda-tragedy?cp_src=d