Thousands of pounds have been raised to help the young children of a tragic fisherman who drowned off the Western Isles.
In just a few hours, more than £6,500 was yesterday donated to a fund set up for Chris Morrison’s two daughters.
The 27-year-old, from Stornoway, and 29-year-old Martin Johnstone, from Halkirk in Caithness, drowned after crab boat MFV Louisa sank off the coast of Mingulay in the early hours of Saturday.
Their bodies were recovered, while their skipper – 42-year-old Paul Alliston – remains missing.
A fourth member of the crew, Lachlann Armstrong, managed to swim to safety through icy waters and clung to rocks until he was rescued.
Yesterday, a fundraising page was set up for Mr Morrison’s daughters and within hours had attracted hundreds of donations – smashing the original £1,000 target.
It states: “Chris worked hard to provide for his beautiful daughters. Long hours and time away on the Louisa made sure his girls had the very best school shoes, pocket money and food on the table.
“Jessica and Hazel are only children with so many more Christmas and birthday presents to come to them. This fund has been set up so that there is always something from their daddy.”
A social media campaign was also launched yesterday to encourage local boat owners on the Western Isles to join a mass search for Mr Allison, from Lewis.
Police – who are investigating the tragedy with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch – also confirmed they would continue their search for the skipper.
Chief Inspector Gordon MacLeod, the police’s area commander for the Western Isles, said yesterday: “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of the men who sadly lost their lives as a result of this tragic incident.
“Understandably, the families involved will seek answers and we hope by carrying out a thorough investigation with the MAIB we will understand the events which lead to the vessel sinking and the loss of life.
“The dedication and professionalism displayed by local coastguard and lifeboat personnel throughout the incident is to be commended.”
Stornoway man Mr Armstrong spoke earlier this week about his dramatic swim to safety through icy waters, and the “devastating” moment he realised he was the only one of the four-strong crew to be picked up safely.
The four fishermen had been asleep in their bunks at anchor, about 12 miles south of Barra, when the crab boat began taking on water.
The 27-year-old revealed the vessel’s life raft failed to properly inflate, prompting his attempt to swim to shore.
Mr Armstrong, understood to originally be from Culbokie on the Black Isle, abandoned the life raft and clung on to the rocks until he was picked up by Barra lifeboat. He was airlifted to the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway, before being discharged.
On Monday, he said: “It’s hard to explain exactly how I feel – the relief at being alive but at the same time the regrets and the sympathies I have for the families involved in the incident. It is heartbreaking. It will never leave me, it’s just so tragic.”
Yesterday, Mr Armstrong shared the fundraising appeal for Mr Morrison’s children on social media, posting: “In loving memory and support”.
To view the fundraising page, visit www.gofundme.com/c2yxeh2k