An emergency rescue mission was launched after a Scots child drifted out to sea on a lilo..
The youngster was in the water playing on an inflatable in Scotstown Head, to the north of Peterhead, at around 4.45pm on Wednesday when they got into difficulty.
The alarm was raised by a worried member of the public who spotted what was happening.
Crews from Peterhead RNLI quickly made way north of Peterhead assisted by the coastguard, air support and nearby fishing vessels. On route to the location, the crew spotted a green inflatable found in the water, but could not see the child.
A search was launched and the youngster was quickly recovered safely to the shore. Volunteers then found a distressed teenager, who had gone to the aid of the younger child in the water.
The teen was starting to become poorly and was rushed into the care of waiting paramedics. Patrick Davidson, Duty Coxswain, praised the team for their efforts in bringing the children to safety.
He said: "Being called out to a young person reported in the water is one of the most dreaded by the crew.
"We can’t stress enough how dangerous inflatables are in the open sea. On this occasion, it was a good outcome and strong multiagency collaboration.
"I want to thank the member of the public, who went to into the water in aid of the child, and the crew for their professionalism and excellent casualty care."
Patrick issued a warning on the dangers of using Inflatables.
He added: "Inflatables can be fun when used safety, but every summer they are one of the most common reasons our lifeboat crews and lifeguards are called to action. They are not designed for the beach, so it is easy to get swept out to sea."
If you’re bringing an inflatable to the beach, the RNLI urged Scots to remember these safety tips:
· Choose a lifeguarded beach
· Use your inflatable close to the shore and between the red and yellow flags
· Ensure children are supervised
· Never use inflatables in big waves or when the orange windsock is flying
If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live. Lean back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat. Control your breathing, then call for help or swim to safety. In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 for the Coastguard.
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