Two men rescued from Forth

Two people were rescued from the River Forth after getting into difficulties while sailing.

The rescue operation was carried out by Kinghorn RNLI lifeboat’s volunteer crew hand a Forth Ports pilot boat.

They responded to an emergency call-out on Friday evening after a call to the coastguard from a person on a small sailing dinghy.

The volunteer crew launched around 5:30pm after a report there was a problem with the mast.

Kelpies rescue

A Forth Ports pilot boat also assisted by marking the position of the vessel until the arrival of the lifeboat. The casualty was located approximately 2.5 miles south of Pettycur.

Mike Chalmer, helmsman, said: “We quickly located the two casualties with the help of the pilot boat.

"The two were much further offshore than they thought and were found to the south of the main shipping channel with a strong northerly wind blowing them southwards.

‘We got the person out of the dinghy and decided to tow it back to Pettycur where they had set off from earlier.

"On arrival, a kayaker was also found to be present and had been accompanying the person in the dinghy. The kayaker then capsized and required to be rescued.

‘Once both casualties were safely onboard, the dinghy then capsized as it did not have a keel.

"The two watercraft and casualties were taken back to Pettycur where Kinghorn Coastguard Rescue Team assisted with getting the two men safely ashore. Both casualties were cold but uninjured.”

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