Jet-skiers involved in a dramatic rescue in the Tay have been described as ”extremely lucky” to be alive.
Two men were swept, shivering, from the river after a recreational Sunday afternoon went wrong.
As reported in The Courier on Monday, all-weather lifeboat RNLB Inchcape was involved in the late afternoon rescue.
With daylight fading, only a whistle helped the crew find their target.
Coxwain Tommy Yule said: ”The two men were extremely lucky that we found them when we did. Much longer in the freezing water and darkness and the outcome might not have been so good.
”But it’s a fantastic result for the crew and certainly one of the most satisfying rescues in my 10 years as coxswain.”
The incident unfolded just after lunchtime when the machine the men were travelling on broke down. A companion who was riding on his own vehicle returned to shore and raised the alarm.
The Broughty Ferry lifeboat was launched but the men could not be found at their last known location.
A major search and rescue operation was mounted immediately and a rescue helicopter was scrambled from RAF Boulmer.
Still finding no success, HM Coastguard requested help from Arbroath RNLI and the all-weather lifeboat was launched around 3.25pm.
A spokesman for the stations said: ”Given the time the men had been in the freezing water, serious concern for their safety was growing and the situation had become critical.”
The volunteer lifeboat crew from Arbroath took up their search around Carnoustie Bay towards Barry Buddon and on to Abertay Sands before heading towards Tentsmuir Point.
One of the volunteer crew members heard a whistle sound east of Abertay Sands at around 4.40pm and the men were found around 100 metres away.
The lifeboat crew administered first aid to combat the freezing water’s effects, and they were transferred to Ninewells Hospital once their condition was stabilised.
For the Arbroath crew the rescue proved a bright counterpoint after they had been involved in the recovery of a man’s body on Saturday.
The man today named by police as 27-year-old William Watson, of Montrose was found on rocks near Victoria Park in Arbroath after a dog walker raised the alarm on Saturday afternoon.
Emergency services attended after the walker reported seeing a person at the bottom of the cliffs shortly before 1pm.
A police spokesman said: “Mr Watson’s family are understandably upset by their sudden loss and have said that he will be greatly missed. They do not wish to make any further comments and have requested that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
As with all sudden deaths, a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.