AVOIDANCE OF MARITIME TRAGEDY BY EASTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL PUPIL

That this House congratulates 13 year old Andrew Paton, a pupil at Eastwood High School, on being designated East Renfrewshire's Citizen of the Year 2015; notes that Andrew's prompt action saved the life of his grandfather, Sandy Malcolm, of Tighnabruaich, who fell out of a speedboat after the vessel was hit by a large wave while they were sailing on Loch Fyne; considers that Andrew showed remarkable presence of mind by calling HM Coastguard, stopping the boat's engine, recovering Mr Malcolm to the side of the boat and tying him to the boat to await help; and commends the assistance Andrew and Mr Malcolm received from other sailors, from Tarbert Coastguard Rescue team and from the RAF, which airlifted Mr Malcolm to Lochgilphead Community Hospital, as evidence of all those connected with the maritime sector to maintain a safe marine environment for both commercial and recreational sailors.