A man has tragically lost his life after a small fishing boat capsized off the North East coast near Stonehaven.
The stricken vessel was discovered upturned by a passing boat who raised the alarm with HM Coastguard at around 3.30pm on Saturday.
A major rescue operation was launched involving RNLI crews from Montrose and Stonehaven who responded alongside rescue helicopter Bond 1.
Other boats in the area also raced to the scene with one man being plucked from the water by a fishing boat.
An offshore supply vessel located a second man a short time later while a third man had managed to swim ashore where he was treated by paramedics.
Police Scotland have now confirmed that one man, aged 61, has sadly passed away.
Two other crew members, aged 67 and 58, were taken to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to be checked over.
A statement from the force said: “Around 4.40 pm on Saturday, 21 August, 2021, officers were called to an incident where a small fishing vessel capsized in the vicinity of Catterline Bay, Aberdeenshire, resulting in the death of a 61-year-old man.
“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and his family have been notified. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course”.
"Two other men on board the boat, aged 67 and 58 years, were taken by ambulance to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary."
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