A paddle boarder has been rescued after drifting out to sea in the Scottish Highlands, sparking an emergency response.
The incident took place around 12.30pm today when coastguard crews were alerted to reports of a missing paddle boarder who had taken to the water from Reiss beach in the town of Wick earlier that morning.
A family member of the missing woman had raised the alarm when they realised their partner had not returned to shore. This prompted Wick RNLI Lifeboat and Wick and Duncansby HM Coastguard to launch a search and rescue operation in a frantic bid to find her.
Extraordinary photos taken at the scene, which were shared on social media, show the paddle boarder lying flat on her stomach in a star fish position as she floats over choppy waves in the middle of the sea.
After making her way over to the lifeboat, several RNLI workers can be seen hauling the casualty on board. Others are armed with binoculars, presumably to ensure the woman's safe recovery from afar.
Teams were joined in their valiant efforts by a local fishing vessel which had responded to a Pan Pan alert - used for non-life threatening but urgent situations - from Shetland Coastguard who were co-ordinating the incident.
Alarmingly, upon arrival at Reiss Beach, volunteers could not see the casualty from shore as she had been carried out of sight by the water. However, after a direction was given by relatives and passed to the RNLI, crew on a larger vessel nearby were able to spot the victim as they had a better line of vision.
A lifeboat sped to the scene, and she was taken to safety, where she was reunited with her family.
It is understood a medical assessment was carried out on the woman but it is unclear as to whether she sustained injuries as a result of the dramatic event, or was taken to hospital.
A spokesperson for RNLI Wick Lifeboat said: "The Emergency Services would like to pass on our thanks to Donald Anderson Skipper/co-owner, and the crew of the local vessel Reaper for their assistance during the search and to thank the crews of other vessels in Wick which were making ready to assist."
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