A 78-year-old holidaymaker had a harrowing experience when she found herself stranded on a remote island in Scotland after mistaking it for a place with the same name in Canada, over 3500 miles away. The woman had been exploring Eilean Ighe, near the village of Arisaig on the west coast of Inverness when she realized she was trapped as the tide came in. She had to be rescued by a local lifeboat crew to prevent being stranded on the uninhabited island overnight.
The woman, who had been monitoring the tide using a tidal app on her phone, made a distress call to the Stornoway Coastguard on the Isle of Lewis. The coastguard then arranged for a lifeboat from Mallaig, ten miles away, to come to her aid. It was revealed that the woman had been looking at the tide times for Arisaig, Nova Scotia in Canada, instead of Arisaig, Scotland.
Michael Currie, one of the crew members from the Mallaig RNLI, recounted the incident, stating that the woman had underestimated the incoming tide due to incorrect information from the app. Fortunately, she had her phone with her, which helped the crew realize the confusion. The crew deployed an inflatable boat to rescue the woman from the island, and she was safely brought back to Mallaig.
Despite the ordeal, the woman, who is from England, was unharmed and reportedly grateful to be safely rescued. The misunderstanding was cleared up, and she learned that there were two places named Arisaig in the world. The incident ended well with everyone returning home in time for tea.
This peculiar mix-up serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate navigation and the potential consequences of relying solely on technology, especially in unfamiliar locations. It also highlights the dedication and prompt response of the lifeboat crew in ensuring the safety of all individuals, even in unusual circumstances.