A 14-year-old girl was winched to safety by helicopter after a dramatic river rescue in Perthshire on Sunday.
Tayside Fire and Rescue confirmed ”disaster was averted” thanks to a successful multi-agency response by the emergency services.
The teenager and a middle-aged man got into difficulty when their canoe capsized on the River Tay’s ”treacherous” Campsie Linn rapids near Stanley.
A concerned member of the public rang 999 shortly before 2pm after spotting the man struggling to safety on the river banks. The frightened youngster was unable to make it to land and, after freeing herself from the vessel, was forced to scramble on to a small island.
First on the scene, Tayside Police immediately requested the help of Tayside Fire and Rescue’s river rescue team and the Scottish Ambulance Service. Four police vehicles, five fire appliances from Perth, Dunkeld and Pitlochry including the heavy rescue unit and two ambulances were in attendance. A control point was set up at nearby Burnside car park.
The river was in spate due to 48 hours of heavy rain and it was quickly decided that the best available option to ensure the safe rescue of the girl was to call in a nearby Royal Navy helicopter. She was airlifted to safety shortly before 4pm and rushed to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee with suspected hypothermia.
Although in a state of shock, it is not believed she suffered any other injuries in the incident.