Two taken to hospital after being spotted in River Clyde by train driver

Two people were rescued from the River Clyde after a train driver stopped to help save them.

The pair were spotted struggling in the water between Port Glasgow and Cardross by the passing ScotRail driver after their 15ft sailing boat capsized and they had been in the river for around an hour.

He stopped the train to help with the rescue of the duo, who were relying on their lifejackets to stay afloat and shouting for help.

One was taken to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital by air, while the other, due to difficult terrain, was taken by train to Cardross railway station to meet waiting ambulance crews.

Coastguard crews from Greenock and Helensburgh, as well as the lifeboat at Helensburgh, were scrambled to the scene at 3.26pm on Thursday, Greenock Coastguard said.

“Two persons had been in the water for a considerable time when they were spotted by a passing train driver who stopped to assist,” the Coastguard spokesman said.

“Both persons were safely recovered from the water. One casualty was taken by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, and, due to difficult terrain, a second casualty was assisted via rail to Cardross train station to meet awaiting Scottish Ambulance Service SORT crews.

“Both casualties were thankfully wearing flotation aids which has kept them afloat whilst being in the water for approximately 60 minutes.”

Their condition is not known.