TWO kayakers from Manchester had a lucky escape after they were swept into a notorious whirlpool off the coast of Scotland.

The men, from Sale and Failsworth, near Oldham, were pushed miles off course by strong tides off Argyll.

Lifeboat crews said they were swept into the waters of Corryvrechan, a collection of whirlpools south of the island of Scarba that are reputed to be the third largest in the world.

One of the men - who have not been named - called emergency services after the other's kayak overturned.

They managed to scramble ashore before a Royal Navy search and rescue Sea King helicopter and crews from Oban Lifeboat Station located them.

Both were unhurt after the drama on Saturday afternoon.

Ronnie MacKillop, Oban lifeboat coxswain, said the men had set off from Loch Melfort near Argyll.

Tidal streams

He said: "They had been over to the Garvellachs, a small group of three islands lying west of Scarba, and had left with the intention of going back to Arduaine, at Loch Melfort, but the tidal streams had pushed them further south than they realised.

"The guys were very well prepared, they had the kit and they acted in the right way once their situation went wrong for them.

"One of them had been in the water and was wet but, health wise, they were fine and they were in good spirits."

Mr MacKillop said the crew's pagers activated during a family open day at the lifeboat station.

He added: "There were families with children on the lifeboat in Oban when our pagers went off and we had to give them the heave-ho, although it was quite exciting for them to see it happen.

"The helicopter located the canoeists at Corryvrechan, a few miles away from where they had thought they were.

"The canoeists managed to get out of the water, on to the island of Scarba, and the helicopter winch man was put down. Ultimately, they made the right decision to ask for assistance."