A man has died after being swept into the sea as he walked with his family on Saturday.
Peter Trudgill, 43, a father from Lyne of Skene, near Westhill, who was married to Anne-Marie, succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Sunday as a heroic rescue operation ultimately ended in tragedy.
Mr Trudgill had been walking with family members when the incident happened around 3pm at Stonehaven Harbour.
Police, ambulance and the Stonehaven coastguard rescue team rushed to the scene after the alarm was raised by a member of the public.
The RNLI lifeboat based at Aberdeen headed through choppy seas to the scene while the coastguard rescue team went to the breakwater.
The air rescue coordination centre also sent a helicopter to the scene.
However, a police officer and members of the public traced and bravely pulled Mr Trudgill to the shore before its arrival.
Mr Trudgill had been in the water for around 40 minutes before he was pulled out.
He was put in a rescue harness, winched up to the helicopter and taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
A crowd gathered around the harbour as the air rescue unfolded and news of the incident soon spread.
A police spokesman said Mr Trudgill died in the early hours of the morning in hospital.
Inspector Inness Coull said: “Members of the emergency services faced treacherous conditions and the male had been in the water for some time before he was removed by a police officer and members of the public.
“I would like to thank the members of the public for their assistance.”
Aberdeen coastguard watch manager Kevin Brown also praised those involved in Saturday’s rescue despite the tragic outcome.
He said: “The people who pulled him from the sea to the shore were incredibly brave, given the conditions on the breakwater in Stonehaven.”
As with all sudden deaths, a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.