A paddleboarder has been taken to hospital after being rescued off Cambo Sands on the Fife coast.
Two lifeboats were launched from the Anstruther station shortly before 12.30pm on Saturday after multiple emergency alerts a man and a woman in difficulty.
A UK Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter from Prestwick was also scrambled as conditions continued to deteriorate.
An immediate search St Andrews bay was conducted before the female paddleboarder was potted clinging to her board.
She was spotted “drifting further and further from shore” in force six winds.
The woman was eventually helped onto the lifeboat before being transferred on to the Mersey class all-weather lifeboat.
With the rescue complete she was then treated by waiting paramedics on her arrival at Anstruther Harbour.
Paddleboarder ‘drifting for some considerable time’
A spokesperson for the Coastguard said: “One of the paddleboarders managed to recover themselves to shore.
“The second paddleboarder was actually drifting further and further off shore and the lifeboat from Anstruther located them at 1.15pm.
“The lifeboat took them on board and took them back to Anstruther.
“They were then taken in an ambulance to (Ninewells) to be treated in hospital.
“They had been drifting for some considerable time so it was fortunate the lifeboat was able to locate them so quickly.”
Speaking after the rescue, crew member, Louis McNaught, who spotted the stricken paddleboarder, said: “Strong gusts had blown the paddleboarder over two miles from the first reported location.
“It was down to the quick thinking of the multiple 999 callers who got vital help to the person in need.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report of concern for a person at Kingsbarn Beach, around 12.15pm on Saturday.
“Emergency services attended and a woman was traced safely and taken to hospital for observation.”
