| Margaret McArthur will travel with Charlie Sillett, who was in charge of maintenance of the remotely operated Scorpio 45 underwater robot used to rescue the vessel stranded 625 feet down in the Pacific Ocean.
Mr Sillett, who lives in Edinburgh, is one of an eight-strong team, based in Renfrew, invited to a reception at No. 10.
The crew answered a plea by the Russian government for help to free the submarine, stranded for three days in fishing nets off the country’s east coast.
With the Russians in serious danger as oxygen levels dwindled, Mr Sillett and the rest of the rescue team used their specialist remote-controlled vehicle to cut the net with just hours to spare.
Mr Sillett and his fellow rescuers were given a hero’s welcome when they returned to Scottish soil.
Mr Sillett was also one of the team involved in the brave attempt to rescue the crew of the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk in August, 2000. The call from the Russian government came too late on that occasion.
Ms McArthur said everyone concerned with the latest operation was desperate to avert another tragedy like the Kursk.
“It was a concerning time. I knew that Charlie and the rest of the crew would be safe but everyone was anxious that they were going to get there in time this time round to save them,” said Ms McArthur.
“When I heard they had managed to save the crew it was such a relief and brilliant news.”
The two pilots, who operated the equipment, along with Ian Riches, commander of the team, will be awarded medals at a ceremony at the Russian War Memorial in London tomorrow morning.
The entire team, including Mr Sillett, will meet Mr Blair at Downing Street later and they will be joined by wives and partners for a lunch at the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Sillett is a self-employed engineer regularly called upon by Renfrew-based firm Rumic, which provide the Royal Navy with the UK Submarine Rescue Service. |
