Man charged with assaulting coastguard rescuer 22/7/08
A Lewisman has been charged with attacking a rescue helicopter crewman in the middle of an emergency mission.
Stornoway Coastguard helicopter was summoned to a report of an emergency at Portnaguaran on the Point peninsula on Monday night when the alleged incident occurred.
Arran Thomas Moore of 2 Portnaguran, Point, appeared from custody at Stornoway Sheriff Court today (Tues).
The 27-year-old pleaded not guilty to assaulting a helicopter winchman.
He is charged with assaulting, obstructing, or hindering a crew member on board the rescue helicopter while it was answering an emergency.
It is alleged that Moore struggled with and attempted to head-butt the rescue winchman.
Moore also denied a charge of disorderly conduct, shouting and swearing and breach of the peace.
Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood set trial for October and Moore was released on bail.
Around 9 pm on Monday Stornoway coastguard helicopter airlifted a man who was trapped by the rising tide at Portnaguran.
Stornoway lifeboat was launched and a number of shore coastguards raced to save him.
The man was in the water but was winched to safety by the air rescue crew and was landed on shore.
