A man and his dog were found cowering under a dinghy after falling into the water at Loch Lomond, sparking a three-hour multi-agency rescue mission that ran through the night.
Incident Unfolds Near Rowardennan
The dramatic incident unfolded shortly before midnight on 4 July 2026, when a man and his dog fell from a dinghy near Rowardennan. Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter were drafted in by Loch Lomond Rescue Boat to attend the scene. Crews scoured the area for the man and his canine companion, as well as the dinghy itself.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Crews soon discovered the dinghy floor in the water while police spoke to people camping nearby. Campers reported seeing the man clambering back into his dinghy after falling in and heading south. With concerns growing for his safety, rescuers trawled the water and shoreline using searchlights and night vision equipment for any signs of life. It was then that they spotted a man trying to get their attention near Ross Isles.
It turned out the man and his dog had washed ashore and taken shelter underneath the dinghy in amongst some trees after falling overboard. The pair were hauled onboard the lifeboat and quickly assessed before being transferred to emergency services. It is unclear whether the man or dog were taken to hospital or suffered any injuries during their ordeal.
Rescue Concludes
Photos taken at the scene show brave responders hurtling through the choppy midnight waters to get to the stranded pair. Helicopters lit up the loch as they looked for any sign of movement below. Another snap shows the sad and scared-looking dog peering out from the lifeboat as they thundered back to safety. Loch Lomond Rescue Boat confirmed the mission was stood down shortly before 3am.
