A VILLAGE teenager is once again taking on the icy waters of the Gare Loch to raise money for the area’s lifeboat.

Eilidh McQueen, from Garelochhead, has organised a solo New Year’s Day swim after the RNLI’s Helensburgh fund-raising branch was forced to cancel its planned New Year Swim for the second year in a row.

Having featured in the Advertiser in January after raising more than £1,000 for the volunteer crew on January 1, 2021, the 17-year-old hopes to achieve this feat once more.

She said: “The Helensburgh lifeboat station has looked after the Gareloch and Clyde throughout the pandemic as well as the years and years beforehand.

“Having had such a tough year with Covid and some pretty awful callouts, I continue to be so thankful for the efforts they [RNLI Helensburgh] commit voluntarily and the time and situations they put themselves in to save people’s lives.”

Eilidh, a member of Helensburgh Sailing Club, has competed for Scotland and Great Britain, and hopes to join the RNLI as soon as she turns 18 – the minimum age specified by the charity for members of its crew.

To donate, search for “Eilidh McQueen” on justgiving.com.

READ MORE: Garelochhead girl's solo New Year's Day swim raises RNLI funds