A windsurfer who sparked a large search and rescue operation off the Fife coast on Saturday evening has been found safe and well.
HM Coastguard said members of the public had contacted them after the watersports enthusiast appeared to get into difficulties off the coast at Crail shortly after 4pm.
Two lifeboats from the RNLI station at Anstruther were sent out to look for the man and, when no trace of him was found, a Royal Navy helicopter from Prestwick was scrambled.
However, a Coastguard spokesman revealed that the operation was stood down when the man, who had made it to shore, realised he was the subject of the search effort.
“We got a call from members of the public out at Crail who were concerned for this windsurfer,” the spokesman said.
“They thought he was having some difficulty getting ashore so the St Andrews and Leven coastguard were alerted, as well as the all-weather and the inshore lifeboat from Anstruther.
“When they searched the area they couldn’t find him, but the person involved contacted us saying he had seen the teams searching and it was him they were searching for.
“He said it may have appeared he was having difficulties, but he was just slowly coming ashore.”
It is understood the windsurfer contacted the coastguard at around 5.10pm, at which point the Royal Navy helicopter had arrived to assist with the search.