A search got under way after a man went missing in a Kinross-shire loch.
It is understood that the 47-year-old was sledging with his wife and two young daughters when he plunged into Dow Loch, near Cleish, at around 3pm.
Fire and ambulance crews rushed to the scene with the man initially reported as conscious and breathing.
Specialist water rescue teams launched a rescue operation involving 31 firefighters from four stations Kinross, Perth, Lochgelly and Dundee.
Five fire engines, a command support unit and specialist technical units were brought to the scene in the shadow of Nivingston Hill.
Six police divers were also helping with the search. It is understood that at least parts of the loch were frozen over, with ice up to an inch thick.
Two RAF Sea King helicopters were also drafted in to help. Crews hoped the aircrafts’ down draught could help break through the ice.
Shortly after 5pm the man’s sister-in-law returned to the scene to pick up his wife from a waiting ambulance but both declined to comment on the search.
Rab Middlemiss, group manager in Perth and Kinross for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said they had been working with other agencies to locate the man.
“We have what could be described as a very challenging emergency incident where we have a person still missing underneath an ice covered loch,” he said.
“The loch itself is relatively small, estimated at 200x150m at its widest points. We have water at varying depths of up to five metres. With the wind chill we are working in sub-zero temperatures.
“Firefighters trained in water rescue used an inflatable raft to get on to the ice and used tools to break through in the area where the person was last seen.
“There’s 31 firefighters on the scene with specialist water rescue-trained crews from Perth supported by crews from Kinross and Lochgelly.
“We have also been supported by the Scottish Ambulance Service’s Special Operations Response Team, who have similar water rescue skills.
“We have initially undertaken rescue operations while awaiting the RAF search and rescue helicopters. The helicopters attempted to use their down drought for the purpose of breaking up some more of the ice.
“A further rescue boat from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is also in use and crews are carrying out a methodical search, breaking through the ice and attempting to find the missing person.
“At this time there is still 40% of the loch covered in ice and we are awaiting the arrival of Police Scotland’s specialist underwater search diving team so that we can further extend our rescue operation.”