Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Pilot Boat Sinks Off Ardrossan : One Man Drowned

From The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald dated Friday 8th May, 1964

PILOT BOAT SINKS OFF ARDROSSAN

Man Lost : Another Rescued

One man lost his life and another was rescued in an unusual accident which occurred off Ardrossan Harbour on Wednesday morning.

James McEvoy, 56 Dalry Road Saltcoats, and David Butcher, 17 Burns Terrace, Ardrossan, had gone out in the pilot's launch to pick up the pilot, who had taken out the tanker Hanetia from Ardrossan, en route for Stanlow.
There was a moderate sea running at the time.

Just when the transfer of the pilot was about to take place there appeared to be an engine failure which caused the launch to drift towards the stern of the tanker. Here the launch got into difficulties and sank.
Butcher jumped into the sea and managed to grab a lifebelt thrown from the tanker.
James Wilson, mate of the Greenock tug "Strongbow," which was one of two tugs in attendance on the tanker, dived overboard with a line and succeeded in saving him.

Unfortunately, McEvoy disappeared without a trace and, at the time of going to press, his body had not been recovered.
McEvoy was a married man with a family of six children.

On Wednesday evening Troon lifeboat marked the spot where the launch is believed to lie and an attempt will be made to raise the wreck when the sea moderates.

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From The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald dated Friday 22nd May, 1964

SUNKEN BOAT RAISED

Found by divers, the Ardrossan pilot boat which sank on 6th May after, it is understood, being hit by the propeller of the shell tanker Hanetia, was raised on Wednesday night and brought into Ardrossan Harbour.

One side of the boat was badly damaged.
The body of the boat man, Mr James McEvoy, 56 Dalry Road, Saltcoats, has not yet been recovered.

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From The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald dated Friday 12th June, 1964

TUGMAN'S BRAVERY RECOGNISED

RESCUE OFF ARDROSSAN

A sequel to the recent tragic accident off Ardrossan Harbour, when the pilot boat sank and one man was drowned is the award of a life-saving medal to Mr James C. Wilson, mate of the Greenock tug "Strongbow."

Mr Wilson has been awarded LLoyds bronze medal for Saving Life at Sea for his rescue of Mr David Butcher, 17 Burns Terrace, Ardrossan, one of the crew of the pilot boat.

The official citation states : -
"Having assisted in the sailing of the Shell tanker "Hanetia" out of the port the master of the tug noticed the pilot boat sinking by the stern.
A man was observed in the water and the Master brought the tug round to windward to commence rescue operation.
About thirty yards to leeward of the man, the tug was stopped and Wilson donned a life jacket and, with a line round his waist, jumped into the sea and swam to the man in the water, who by this time was in an exhausted condition and had been holding on to a life-buoy.
When Wilson got hold of the man, David Butcher, he signalled to the tug crew to pull them both back alongside but, with the strong wind and heavy sea, Wilson and the rescued man got under the counter of the tug.
They were subsequently pulled alongside, however, and the second Engineer of the tug managed to get hold of the rescued man's arm while Wilson, using the lift of the waves, pushed him up by his legs.
In this manner the man was helped on board and Wilson was then assisted from the water."