Coastguards locate lost Hermaness walker

EMERGENCY services in Shetland were called out on Tuesday night to help locate a lone walker with his dog who had become lost in the dark and had fallen into a bog at the Hermaness Nature reserve, on the island of Unst.

The Sumburgh based coastguard helicopter SAR102 was scrambled at 9.40pm after police had received a call from the man on his mobile phone.

The Baltasound coastguard rescue team and the Unst fire and rescue team were also called out.

The man was quickly located as he had kept in phone contact with Shetland coastguard, and was able to direct the helicopter with the help of a flash camera he had with him.

The helicopter hovered over the area, while the coastguard rescue team made its way to the scene and then escorted the man and his dog off the hill.

The man was wet and shaken, but in no need of further medical attention. He was described as living locally but new to the island.

A spokesman for Shetland coastguard said: “It is fairly isolated up there and it was dark by then. It definitely was the safest thing to call for help, particularly after he had fallen into a bog.”