A man in an inflatable kayak who sparked a major search operation off Porobello beach in freezing conditions today ended up swimming to safety.
The search and rescue helicopter, two lifeboat teams and three coastguard teams joined Police Scotland in searching for the man.
The alarm was raised after the man, aged between 30 to 40, initially failed to return after setting off from Portobello beach, close to the Seafield Recycling Centre, in an inflatable kayak at around 3.15pm.
He disappeared from view at around 4pm approximately two miles from the beach.
A major search was then launched with the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter arriving from Inverness along with Kinghorn and Anstruther lifeboat crews and Coastguard rescue teams from Fisherrow, South Queensferry and North Berwick attending, along with representatives from Police Scotland.
A public appeal was issued for any information on the whereabouts of the man, who was not wearing a lifeboat and had jeans and a jumper on.
However in the early hours of Thursday morning the Maritime and Coastguard agency confirmed that the man had been traced – after he swam to safety.
A statement read: “HM Coastguard is pleased to announce that the missing kayaker was traced onshore overnight after members of the public came forward with information.
"The man involved had been forced to abandon the kayak at sea and swim back to shore in darkness and is safe and well.”
