The search goes on at Loch Ryan

Stephen Ridley, aged 14, and from Westleigh in Greater Manchester, was swept into the water at Loch Ryan in Dumfries and Galloway almost 24 hours ago.

He had been on a boating trip with his father, 37-year-old Sean Ridley, his brother Micheal, aged 12, grandfather, Brian Ridley, 61, and a family friend, Harvey Haughton, 58.

Sean and his son Michael, who were wearing lifejackets, were rescued after five hours in the water, but died later in hospital.

Brian and Mr Haughton were also rescued and are now recovering at Garrick Hospital in Stranraer.

Alison Burns, the Wigtownshire General Manager for NHS Dumfries and Galloway, said: "Medical staff worked with the casualties, but unfortunately two were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Post mortem

"Two males were treated and will be discharged from the hospital once the family arrives."

Ms Burns said she did not know whether Brian Ridley and Mr Haughton would be returning to their homes in England.

She said the two men had been suffering from hypothermia when brought to the hospital on Saturday.

"The two deceased bodies will be taken for a post mortem so I can't comment on the cause of death at the present time," she added.

It is thought Stephen was not wearing a lifejacket when the boat went down at about 1600 BST on Saturday.

Coastguards believe a freak gust of wind may have caused the accident

Galloway Coastguard sector manager David Shaw said the boat had probably been hit by the unexpected gust on their way back to shore.

'Bit choppy'

"As far as we know the five of them were on a fishing trip and they were coming back from the other side of the loch and they were hit by bad weather.

"Unfortunately the boat got swamped and sank.

"It was reporting that it started getting a bit gusty but in Scotland we always get freak gusts so that's what we think it was.

The accident happened on Saturday afternoon

"It wasn't gale force wind or anything like that, it was a bit choppy.

"As far as we can gather, the boat took in water and sank."

Meanwhile prayers are being said for the family in their home village of Westleigh.

The drama started on Saturday evening when Clyde Coastguard responded to an emergency call from a yacht which spotted the upturned vessel in Loch Ryan, near Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway, at 2045 BST.

Four ferries were initially involved in the search, which happened near the main sea route between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

A rescue helicopter was scrambled to join the mission which also involved four coastguard teams.

Search teams scoured the coastline around Loch Ryan to see if the missing teenager had managed to scramble ashore.