Billionaire's huge ship topples over with 33 people hurt and 21 in hospital
A massive ship owned by the estate of a billionaire co-founder of Microsoft has toppled over at a UK dock, with dozens of people hurt and 21 in hospital.
The vessel became dislodged and fell sideways at Edinburgh's Imperial Dock at about 8.35am, sparking a major emergency. Emergency services are dealing with multiple casualties and an air ambulance has been spotted at the scene.
Pictures show the boat leaning at a 45-degree angle.
A total of 33 people were injured, and 21 are in hospital, the Scottish Ambulance Service has confirmed. A further 12 people were treated at the scene.
Multiple crew members were initially reported as missing, though Police Scotland has since confirmed everybody is accounted for.
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The 250ft ship owned by the estate of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen toppled onto its side in Edinburgh today (@Tomafc83 / Twitter)
Pictures show the boat leaning at a 45 degree angle (@Tomafc83/Twitter)The local hospital has urged people to stay away from A&E unless it's an emergency, and said its staff were on standby waiting to receive "acute patients" this afternoon.
One person was rushed into surgery after the incident, according to BBC News.
Jacquie Campbell, chief officer of acute services at NHS Lothian said staff were "reviewing the current capacity" at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh- and was "waiting to accommodate" patients from the boat.
Edinburgh City council leader Cammy Day said there were around 50 people on board.
He feared "there may be a dozen people who've been injured to some extent".
It had been previously reported that two of the crew were missing.
A source told the Scottish Sun: “This is an extremely worrying situation. It’s been very windy since the early hours of this morning and normal operations had been put on hold until conditions eased.
Police, ambulances and the fire service rushed to Imperial Dock in Leith after it fell sideways (@Tomafc83 / Twitter)“Ten crew members are injured and two have been reported missing. Those injured have suffered various injuries, but as far as I am aware, non are in a life-threatening condition.
“But everyone is very worried for the safety of those currently onboard.”
The Times reported an NHS source as saying more than a dozen casualties are being treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, while unconfirmed reports state several people are feared missing and unaccounted for.
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Multiple emergency services remained at the scene this morning (PA)The Scottish Ambulance Service sent five ambulances, an air ambulance, three trauma teams and other resources to the scene in the port district of Leith, while the fire service also attended.
A statement said: “We received a call at 0829 hours today to attend an incident in Leith. We have dispatched five ambulances, an air ambulance, three trauma teams, our special operations team (SORT), three Paramedic Response Units (PRU) and one patient transport vehicle.
"We transported 21 patients to hospital; 15 to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, four to Western General Hospital and two to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. A further 12 patients were treated and discharged at the scene.”
Jacquie Campbell, Chief Officer of Acute Services at NHS Lothian said earlier in the afternoon that Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh's A&E department was "reviewing" their current capacity to prepare for patients following a "major incident".
Multiple people have been rushed to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh (PA)"Given the expected pressure on the site, we urge people not to attend A&E at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh unless it's an emergency", she said.
"If you think you need urgent care, please contact your GP or call NHS 24 on 111 to seek advice. Thank you."
The ship is the RV Petrel owned by the estate of billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who died in 2018, and is being dealt with by ship repair company Dales Marine Service.
Used for several years as a deep-submergence research vessel, it has not been used since it was placed in long-term moorage back in 2020 due to "operational challenges".
The boat reportedly belongs to the estate of Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen. left, pictured with Bill Gates (file image) (Bloomberg via Getty Images)It arrived in Scotland following a trans-Atlantic journey the same year, after previously drydocking in Florida.
Dales said they were liaising with the emergency services in dealing with the ongoing incident, stating their that "priority is to ensure those involved and their families are supported.”
Commenting on the emergency response to today's incident, a Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Officers and emergency service colleagues are responding to an incident at Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, whereby a ship on dry dock has become dislodged from its holding.
"Police were called to attend at around 8.35am on Wednesday and officers remain at the scene.
"The public are asked to avoid the area to allow emergency service access."
The ship, owned by billionaire Paul Allen's estate, is believed to have become dislodged from its holding (PA)Local councillor Adam McVey said the ship became dislodged in strong winds and he described the incident as "terrifying" for those on board.
He tweeted: "Emergency services are responding to a major incident at Leith docks - a ship has been dislodged from its holding in strong winds.
"Terrifying for those on board, my thoughts are with those who've been injured & hope everyone recovers quickly. Please avoid area."
The ship is in a precarious position (PA)A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "We were alerted at 8.43am on Wednesday to reports of an incident at Imperial Dock, Leith, Edinburgh.
"Operations control mobilised four appliances and a number of specialist resources.
"Crews currently remain in attendance."
An air ambulance attends the scene (Getty Images)The coastguard also sent teams to the scene and said: "HM Coastguard is currently assisting Police Scotland in responding to a major incident at Imperial Dry Dock in Edinburgh.
"At around 9.30am, Coastguard rescue teams from Fisherrow, South Queensferry and Kinghorn were sent to the scene.
"This is a multi-agency response, with the Scottish Ambulance Service and Scottish Fire and Rescue also in attendance."
Emergency services at Imperial Dock in Leith (PA)Scottish Greens Lothian MSP Lorna Slater said her thoughts were with the injured and "others impacted by what must have been a terrifying experience".
“Our thanks go to the emergency services and other agencies who are working to deal with this and to assess the situation", she added.
RMT Union's Edinburgh branch meanwhile has said it would be supporting any of its members potentially on board, with safety "always a priority", as the Health and Safety Executive also confirmed it was "making enquiries" into the incident.
The Scottish Government said: "Scottish Government has activated its resilience arrangements to support the response following an incident at Imperial Dock in Leith.
"A boat on dry dock has become dislodged from its holding. We would request that the public follow advice to avoid the area to allow emergency service access."
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