A man has died in hospital after being rescued off the north-east coast.
Lifeboat teams from Buckie and Macduff, alongside the Banff Coastguard Rescue Team and the HM Coastguard Inverness helicopter, were sent to the scene just outside Macduff Harbour at around 12.40pm yesterday.
A 67-year-old male was on a creel boat fishing before he went missing overboard.
Another fisherman spotted the empty vessel going round in circles and alerted the Coastguard.
A number of vessels in the area also joined in the search after responding to a mayday relay broadcast from HM Coastguard.
The man was located by the Coastguard helicopter in the water just before 1.30pm.
He was then airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where Police Scotland confirmed that he passed away.
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A HM Coastguard spokesman said: “The lifeboats at Buckie and Macduff were launched to find a missing person from a creel boat.”
A Police Scotland spokeswman said: “We were made aware of an ongoing search for a 67-year-old man who had been fishing off Macduff at around 1.30pm yesterday.
“The male has been found during the search and was airlifted to hospital where he sadly died.
“His next of kin have been advised.”
Detective Inspector Sam Buchan added: “The family of the man have been advised and my thoughts are with them at this very sad time.
“Inquiries are being carried out along with our partners from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation branch.
“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.”
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