Rescue operation launched after kayakers get into difficulty at sea off Banffshire coast
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A rescue operation was launched after two kayakers got into difficulty off the coast between Portsoy and Cullen on Tuesday.
Lifeboats from Macduff and Buckie, and the Coastguard helicopter were called out to the Sandend Bay incident at about 11.55am, which involved a father and daughter.
The dad was rescued from the water and the RNLI crews retrieved the daughter from her kayak.
HM Coastguard said: "We tasked two lifeboats from Macduff and Buckie to make a search of waters off the coast.
"We were called at 11.55am to reports of two kayakers who were in difficulty at sea."
Buckie lifeboat said: "Buckie lifeboat was launched at 11.57am today, Tuesday, October 10, to the aid of two kayakers who had found themselves in difficulties off of Sandend Bay.
"The volunteer crew responded rapidly to their pagers and the lifeboat was launched within minutes of the call being made.
"We were joined on scene by our flank station RNLI Macduff lifeboat and the SAR helicopter Rescue 151 from Inverness, one casualty was recovered from the water and the second recovered by Macduff's ILB from her kayak.
"Both casualties were assessed by Casualty Care trained crew and CG 151 winchman onboard the Buckie lifeboat.
"On arrival in Buckie they were both handed over to the Scottish Ambulance Service, thankfully both casualties were found to be cold but otherwise fit and well.
"Thankfully today’s outcome was a successful one. This was not only due to a great team effort from all the emergency services but also down to the father and daughter kayakers being well equipped with life-jackets and most importantly a phone to call 999 and alert the coastguard."
