Major search launched after woman 'overboard' on Stornoway Ferry

A major search was launched at the weekend after it was believed a woman had fallen overboard from the Stornoway ferry in Scotland.

The maritime emergency services launched a large-scale search for the woman, thought to be in her mid-50s, when all the passengers disembarked at 5.15pm from Sunday's crossing from Lewis to Ullapool but her bike was left behind.

Police were called to Ullapool pier before 7pm after it emerged there was no sign of the woman, and no explanation for why her bike had been left on board.

According to stv.tv, lifeboats headed at full speed to the scene and Stornoway Coastguard rescue helicopter focused a search near where she was last seen on board the Caledonian MacBrayne-operated MV Isle of Lewis ferry.

The Stornoway Gazette reports that other vessels, sea-ribs and fishing boats also aided the search.

But the rescue mission was called off when the woman was found by police in Inverness, where she had booked herself into a youth hostel.

A spokesman for Stornoway Coastguard said: "The missing woman has been found safe and well. All emergency services have been stood down."

It is not known why she left her bike behind on the ferry.

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