The Grateful Rev
A Church of Scotland minister had his prayers answered after a stranger plucked him from the rough waters off Kylerhea on Skye. Rev Dr Rory MacLeod got into trouble when his kayak capsized. In rough seas, he struggled to swim back to shore and eventually lost consciousness. Step up 63 year old David Campbell who picks up the story, “I watched Rory through binoculars swimming for the best part of 30 minutes and he was not getting much nearer to the beach. So I thought I better go and give him a hand to pull the kayak in. I put on a short sleeved wetsuit and grabbed a 65-foot rope and waded out. I was in the water up to my neck and standing on the bottom.” Luckily, Mr Campbell was able to grab the minister and drag him to shore. The RNLI Kyle of Lochalsh lifeboat and Stornoway Coastguard helicopter soon arrived on the scene and the former Royal Marine chaplain was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness where he made a full recovery. The grateful Rev said of his rescuer, “Whatever else he might have achieved during his life, he can enjoy knowing that he gave a wife back her husband and restored a father to their children.” As for Mr Campbell he said, “I am glad of the opportunity to be able to help him.” Spoken like a true hero.