Person rushed to hospital after being rescued from the Clyde

Emergency services rushed to Gourock after receiving a report of an individual in the water by the Western Ferries terminal at around 9:05am. 

The ferry company has confirmed the rescue operation was launched after an incident on board one of its vessels.

The person was rescued by a police rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) before being taken to Inverclyde Royal Hospital by ambulance. 

Greenock's Coastguard were called to the scene shortly after 9am, with an HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter sent from Prestwick to assist.

Police and Helensburgh's RNLI lifeboat were also dispatched to the scene, while a nearby yacht attended to offer assistance. 

Eye witnesses reported seeing the lifeboat at the second Western Ferries ramp at McInroy's Point, and said an ambulance had been spotted at the ferry terminal.

CalMac said that two of their vessels, MV Argyll Flyer and MV Chieftain, had been asked to attend to provide assistance, disrupting its Gourock-Dunoon and Gourock-Kilcreggan ferry services.

Western Ferries announced at 9.12am that its service between McInroy's Point and Hunter's Quay had been suspended. 

At 9.44am Western announced that their service had resumed, while CalMac said around the same time that both the Argyll Flyer and the Chieftain had been stood down.

A coastguard search and rescue helicopter hovers above two Western Ferries vessels following the incident on one of the firm's ferries on Tuesday. (Image: Contributed) A Coastguard spokesperson said: "A person reported to be in the water by the ferry terminal at McInroy's Point, Gourock, was rescued by a police RHIB.

"The alarm was raised at about 9.05am on October 29.

"The HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick was sent as well as Greenock Coastguard Rescue Team.

"The RNLI's inshore lifeboat from Helensburgh also attended.

"The person was conveyed to hospital by the Scottish Ambulance Service."

A spokesperson for Western Ferries added: "An incident occurred onboard one of our vessels this morning, which resulted in our service being suspended.

"This has now been resolved and our service has resumed.

"We would like to thank everyone who came to assist including the coastguard, Scottish Ambulance Service, Police Scotland and the search and rescue helicopter.

"Our thanks also to Caledonian MacBrayne and the yacht owner who attended the scene on the water."

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 9.31am today from the Coastguard to attend an incident in Gourock.

"We dispatched one ambulance to the scene and transported one patient to Inverclyde Royal Hospital.”

A spokesperson for CalMac Ferries told the Tele: "CalMac vessels MV Argyll Flyer and MV Chieftain were called to assist with the incident but have since been stood down. 

"Normal service resumed at 11.15am departing from Gourock."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.25am on Tuesday, 29 October, 2024 we were called to a report of concern for a male youth who had gone overboard from a ferry near to Gourock.

“Emergency services attended and he was recovered from the water.

“He has been taken to Inverclyde Royal Infirmary for treatment.”