Footage has emerged of a stranded windsurfer being rescued by the RNLI after trying to cross the Firth of Forth from Fife to Dunbar in East Lothian last night.
The rescue teams body cam video shows the moment an RNLI lifeboat deploys from Anstruther to locate the struggling windsurfer at approximately 6pm yesterday evening (Friday 28 August).
Lifeboat crews raced through choppy waters to find the man in the sea south of May island, over 8km from the Fife shoreline.
The grateful windsurfer, in his fifties, had been trying to reach East Lothian and is heard in the short video saying, "The problem is the wind's dropped" before rescuers haul him aboard.
An eagle-eyed caller had spotted the water sports enthusiast while looking through a telescope from their home in Anstruther.
The homeowner then dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard after seeing the windsurfer struggle.
An RNLI spokeswoman said: "The lifeboats were tasked to begin a search to locate the lone surfer.
"After a short search, the windsurfer was located 10 miles from Anstruther and was a further six miles from his destination - Dunbar."
The volunteer crew at Dunbar launched their inshore lifeboat to help the crew bring the wind surfer into the "narrow and blustery" harbour mouth.
Volunteer crew member Shelley Watson said: 'We would like to praise the efforts of the caller who not only spotted the windsurfer in difficulty but dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard.
"If you see anyone in difficulty, we ask that you too do as this person did and dial 999 and get help to the person."
