Another wee boat swamped (1923)

In January a local fisherman from Portlethen lost his life when the small boat he was fishing from was swamped by a large wave and overturned.

One January morning Alexander Craig, and a relative George Craig, set out in their small boat to fish along the local coast. The sea was very choppy at the time and at around 11.30 am it was noticed from the village that the boat was in distress about a mile from land.

After the large wave had swamped the boat Alexander Craig was carried away and drowned almost immediately but his companion was able to hold on to the keel of the capsized boat until a yawl came on the scene and rescued him.

Later that afternoon a Stonehaven fishing boat came upon the overturned yawl and found the body of Mr. Craig entangled in the fishing gear and sail. His body was extricated and taken back to Portlethen.

Mr Craig was an elder of Portlethen Parish Church and Reverend A.R. Grant made sympathetic reference to the sad death of the fisherman in the church on the following Sunday.