A man has been pulled from the River Esk in Midlothian in a frantic early morning rescue.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene at Newbattle Road in Dalkeith shortly before 4am on Tuesday amid reports of a person in the water.
Fire crews dispatched five different appliances including water and rope rescue teams to haul the man from the river before he was taken to hospital for treatment.
Police and ambulance crews also supported the rescue effort, which lasted almost two hours.
The man was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, however his condition and the extent of his injuries are currently unknown.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 3:55am a man was rescued was rescued from the River South Esk at Newbattle Road in Dalkeith.
“The man was taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment.
“No further police action was taken.”
Crews eventually departed the scene at around 5:15am after being alerted to the incident by concerned locals.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were alerted at 3.48am on Tuesday, July 20 to reports of a person in difficulty at Eskbank Woods, Dalkeith.
“Operations Control mobilised four appliances and a number of special resources, including rope rescue teams, to assist with the rescue of a man who had fallen down an embankment.
“The casualty was handed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“Crews left after making the area safe.”
