A man has died after falling off a Stena Line ferry, sparking a major search and rescue operation. The man fell into the water in a port near Stranraer at 5.50pm on Saturday.
The ferry was sailing from Belfast to Cairnryan when the incident happened, on board a Stena Superfast VIII ship. Response vehicles from Stranraer lifeboat station and a Coastguard helicopter were deployed.
A Stena Line rescue craft was also launched. The man was found and airlifted to University Hospital Ayr. Police Scotland say he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Enquiries to establish the full circumstances of the incident remain ongoing and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."
Stena Line said the incident happened "as the ship approached its destination of Loch Ryan Port, Cairnryan." They added: "Emergency response procedures were initiated, including the launch of Stena Line’s onboard fast response craft.
"All relevant authorities, including the Coastguard and Police Scotland were informed and a search and rescue operation was launched. Superfast VIII resumed its sailing schedule at approx. 20.30 hrs.
"A full investigation into the incident is currently underway led by Police Scotland.”
