The Belgian trawler, De Haai, got a wire round its propellor and was being towed to Scrabster by the Belgian trawler, Massabielle, where local divers, George Gibson and Billy Stewart were on standby to clear the obstruction. The tow line was dropped in Thurso Bay with the aim of lashing the two vessels together in order to come into Scrabster Harbour. Strong winds however, drove both vessels across Thurso Bay and they came ashore at Thurso East, just to the east of the castle.
Coastguard searchlights from the shore lit up the foaming waves and the wreck scene was made dramatic by a fire on the wing bridge of one trawler. This being an attempt by the crew to draw attention to their plight. As a wave receded the whole keel could be seen resting on the slate and equally often the deck was swept by solid sea, so their alarm was understandable. The other trawler was high and dry.
Divers, Gibson and Stewart, seeing their job heading for Thurso rocks, were first on the scene and tensioned the De Haai's cables so the crew of six could crawl down the cable hand-over-hand. The De Haai's crew would not wait for the coastguards breeches-buoy so when the coastguard arrived they stabilised the shore end of the cable and assisted the crew through the surf. The divers clung to the surging cable in the deeper surf and all got ashore uninjured. The crew of the Massabielle came ashore by raft.
The thirteen crewmen from both vessels were then taken to the Mission at Scrabster.
For their bravery, divers George Gibsin and Billy Stewart, were awarded the Alan Broadhurst Gold Medal.
The Massabielle was later refloated and salvaged, but the De Haai became a total wreck and some of her remains can be seen on the shore at Thurso East, near Lady Janet's seat.
Coastguard searchlights from the shore lit up the foaming waves and the wreck scene was made dramatic by a fire on the wing bridge of one trawler. This being an attempt by the crew to draw attention to their plight. As a wave receded the whole keel could be seen resting on the slate and equally often the deck was swept by solid sea, so their alarm was understandable. The other trawler was high and dry.
Divers, Gibson and Stewart, seeing their job heading for Thurso rocks, were first on the scene and tensioned the De Haai's cables so the crew of six could crawl down the cable hand-over-hand. The De Haai's crew would not wait for the coastguards breeches-buoy so when the coastguard arrived they stabilised the shore end of the cable and assisted the crew through the surf. The divers clung to the surging cable in the deeper surf and all got ashore uninjured. The crew of the Massabielle came ashore by raft.
The thirteen crewmen from both vessels were then taken to the Mission at Scrabster.
For their bravery, divers George Gibsin and Billy Stewart, were awarded the Alan Broadhurst Gold Medal.
The Massabielle was later refloated and salvaged, but the De Haai became a total wreck and some of her remains can be seen on the shore at Thurso East, near Lady Janet's seat.