TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER 2001

MR MARK HOLBROOK

  640. You were the last person to see the helicopter, after that we are dealing with fog?

  A. Other than the people on the fishing vessels.

  641. You presumably discussed this with Mr McLeod, because he was on deck while you were changing your clothes, was his recollection the same as yours?

  A. I discussed this with him before I came along to the Committee as well, both our recollections are that if we looked back towards the Mull we would have been able to see the location of the lighthouse but not distinguish the lighthouse itself because the lighthouse itself was in fog—in low cloud—and the level of the cloud was certainly changing.

  642. We can take some interest in the fact that the trawlers were also eye-witnesses and therefore their evidence would have been useful. You are quite sure they were Scottish, are you?

  A. The St Andrew's Cross was seen by my crewman.

  643. On one or other?

  A. On one trawler.

  644. Painted on the hull?

  A. It was on part of the superstructure.

  645. Can you estimate the cloud cover where you were, the cloud height?

  A. At which position, sir, when I saw the aircraft?

  646. Yes.

  A. Seven eighths.

  647. What height was that cloud, roughly?

  A. The cloud was very layered, therefore the question would be, which part of the layer?

  648. The lowest part?

  A. The lowest part, 1,000 feet

  649. Just to be certain we get this into the notes, Mr Holbrook, was your crewman Mr McLeod on deck when the helicopter was in sight or was he still below?

  A. He was still below. We have talked about this on a number of occasions because I called him in such a way that he may have stuck his head out to have a look but he was physically down below at the time.

  650. I see. Mr Holbrook, we are extremely grateful to you for coming all of the way down here to help us. On behalf of the Committee I would like to say thank you very much indeed.

  A. Thank you, my Lord.