From BBC News: Driver goes missing on causeway

[Mary G]

From the BBC News site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7172577.stm

Text:

A motorist has gone missing on the Dhorlin causeway between Daavar Island and the Kintyre peninsula.
A rescue helicopter, police, coastguard and lifeboat teams had been sent to the area to look for the car, which is thought to contain a lone male.

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police confirmed the alarm had been raised at about 1825 GMT.

High tide had covered the short causeway by 2100 GMT. Rescuers will return to the scene on Saturday.

Davaar is a tiny island in the Kilbrannan Sound near Campbeltown which is uninhabited apart from two holiday cottages and a lighthouse.

It is linked to the mainland for just a few hours every day by the shingle causeway.

[Kevin Mc]

I've just seen that on the BBC's website - didn't realise it was Davaar island at first. Surely it was a 4x4? Any more news on this?

[Kevin Mc]

The story in the BBC link has been updated.

A 60-year-old man is missing after he set out on the Dhorlin causeway between Daavar Island and the Mull of Kintyre.

His four-wheel-drive vehicle has been found by rescue teams but there is no trace of the driver.

[Ticketty Boo!]

Update from BBC;

Bad weather sparks rescue efforts

The causeway links Daavar Island for only a few hours a day
Extreme winter weather has caused a series of emergency situations for rescue services in Scotland.
Len Bennett, 70, is missing after he set out on a causeway between Daavar Island and the Kintyre peninsula.

His four-wheel-drive vehicle has been found by rescue teams but there is no trace of the driver.

A 48-year-old woman from Edinburgh has gone missing in the Kirkmichael hills in Perthshire where it is thought she set out alone to take pictures.

A rescue helicopter, police, coastguard and lifeboat teams have been involved in the search for the man.

The Landrover vehicle was recovered from the water but Mr Bennett was not within the vehicle

Strathclyde Police

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police confirmed the alarm had been raised at about 1825 GMT on Friday. High tide had covered the short Dhorlin causeway by 2100 GMT.

The spokesman added: "Len Bennett of the Light Keeper's House, Davaar Island, left home in his Landrover motor vehicle in order to travel on the causeway between Davaar Island and Campbeltown mainland.

"When he did not return home a short time later his family raised the alarm. A full search of the water and surrounding land began.

"At around 0330 GMT this morning, the Landrover vehicle was recovered from the water but Mr Bennett was not within the vehicle."

Davaar is a tiny island in the Kilbrannan Sound near Campbeltown. The islan is deserted apart from two holiday cottages and a lighthouse.

[Kintyre Forum News]

Search continues - captured this image on the webcam.

[Kevin Mc]

We got a lift from Davaar Island the other summer from a chap in a V8 Range Rover. Think he lived on the Island, though looked nowhere near 70 - hope it's not him Whoever it is, I hope they find him alive and well, though it doesn't look good

[Ross]

may well be the very same, just saw a range rover gettin towed off the dhorlin a few minutes ago

[Kintyre Forum News]

Search has now been called off.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7172577.stm

Thoughts are with all the family at this time.

[Kintyre Forum News]

Noticed the search continued today.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7172577.stm

[Goldielocks]

Been told tonight by Anne his daughter that the search has been called off, Len was a very nice man, and my thoughts are with Rose his wife and Anne,

[general jack o'niell]

i was puzzled by this as the seaking kept circling my house and i thought it was trying to land, it didn't seem to be going out the loch very far as it came over the roof every two or three minutes?

and as i type the yellow copter has just come into land in the field, hope his remains are found soon, must be terrible having to live looking out to where he was lost, it was a poor day, i never left house so have no idea of the state of the tide when he tried crossing, but then he must have done it dozens of times?

[sandkuk]

This is my first post at this site despite being a member for a while now and what a sad thread to make that first post.

I first signed up here to get a feeling for the local area as we were going to stay on Davaar for a week last Feburary. We spent a fantastic week on Davaar and throughly enjoyed the company of Len and his lovely wife Rose. I can honestly say they are the nicest couple we have ever met. We would spend hours chatting away to the pair of them. We got on so well that we were due to go back to the Island for a week next month this time not just as holidaymakers but as friends of theirs.

Len was a wonderful man. We'll miss him.

Our thoughts are with Rose and their daughter Ann Marie.

Steve and Kim
Whitley Bay.

[mrn]

I'd like to echo you comments sandkuk - lovely couple.

Terrible news for the start of the year.

[duncanh]

I see they have recovered Len's body.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7187621.stm

[peter]

by coincidence we heared just today about this tragedy through the internet. We are friends since 5 years, comming each year to Len and Rose to have our summer holiday together. We are really shocked and depressed about what had happend. But Len is always in our memory, his absolutly friendly mentality,such nice man we whished the world had more of him. We had such great time together and we will really miss him. We feel with his familiy Rose and Anne-Marie. There are not enough words to describe this wonderful unique person.
Peter, Susan and Sean
http://www.morisson.easy-buero.de/index.html