An Argyll oyster farm owner who “loved” his job has died after being pulled from freezing waters while working in a North Argyll loch.
The man, named locally as Hugo Vajk, was found face down in Loch Creran and was subsequently airlifted to Oban Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The 62-year-old, originally from France, founded The Caledonian Oyster Company Ltd with his wife Judith. The family business has been running for more than 22 years.
A police spokeswoman said that inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Yesterday Mrs Vajk said: “He was a good man and a great father. He loved his oyster farming and he loved where we lived, and he was a very well respected shellfish farmer. He loved his job and loved being out on the loch side.
“He had an accident at his work and he got caught in the water.”
Mrs Vajk said the pair met in France in the 1980s while they were both working, and that they have three children together.
The couple farmed oysters in France and the Channel Islands for more than 25 years before returning to Scotland.
Mrs Vajk, originally from Perthshire, also said that her husband was a keen sailor and a member of the Oban Sailing Club.
Oban North and Lorn councillor Elaine Robertson said: “This was a tragic accident and my heartfelt and deepest sympathy goes to the family.
“We are not a huge population up here and everyone either knows him, or knows of him. I have spoken to one or two people in the area and the community is really feeling this.
“It’s the second tragedy that’s hit this area since New Year and it affects everyone because we are a small community.”
Police were alerted to the incident at Loch Creran at about 4.40pm on Sunday.
Oban Lifeboat was launched at 4.35pm and the Oban coastguard rescue team, a coastguard rescue helicopter from Prestwick and police and ambulance vehicles were also sent to the scene.
As the lifeboat proceeded the coastguard broadcast a mayday relay to request the assistance of any other vessels also in the area.
The lifeboat crew arrived on scene shortly after 5pm.
An Oban lifeboat spokeswoman said the casualty was quickly located with help from the person who called in the incident on shore, and recovered by the lifeboat crew soon after.
She added: “The lifeboat then rendezvoused with the rescue helicopter to drop a winchman onboard, who then lifted the casualty on to the helicopter for onward transfer to hospital.”
The accident happened just one week after 42-year-old father and husband, Paul Thomson, died in a quad-biking accident on Lerags Road, Lerags on New Year’s day.