Stay-the-night kayaker sparks major search operation in Forth

A kayaker who failed to say he was spending a night at sea sparked a major search operation in the Forth this morning.

A Sea King helicopter, two lifeboats and other local vessels were scrambled after it was reported that the man had not returned home on Tuesday evening.

The search centred on Inchkeith Island, with lifeboats from Kinghorn and South Queensferry launched shortly after 9am.

A Royal Navy helicopter also joined the hunt for the ‘missing’ kayaker, amid serious concerns for his welfare.

However, following investigations by the lifeboat crews it was established that the “missing” man had actually spent the night on a nearby yacht, with the search subsequently called off.