Rescuers hailed after Portknockie drama
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COASTGUARDS and other members of the emergency services have been lauded by the father of a teenager plucked to safety after an accident on the Portknockie shoreline.
Thomas Hopkins (14) was part of an organised group undertaking a coastal orienteering walk when he badly twisted his knee and was unable to be moved.
Coastguard teams from Buckie, Banff and Portsoy were joined by Coastguard helicopter Rescue 951 from Inverness plus paramedics based in Buckie as Thomas was airlifted from the site of the accident, near the Muckle Cleary rock, to Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin.
His stepfather, Fochabers-Lhanbryde Councillor Marc Macrae told the Advertiser: "Thomas got off quite lightly, all things considered, he's going to be OK.
"On behalf of my wife and myself, I can't thank the Coastguards, both on land and in the air, and the paramedics enough - they were fantastic and it's amazing how they're prepared to put their own saefty at risk to help others.
"The group Thomas was with were well organised and had all the right kit - I'd like to thank them, too, for taking care of him in what was a freak accident."
For more details on the rescue drama as well as more photos, see the next edition of the Advertiser.
