Two teenagers were airlifted to safety after drifting out to the sea on a pink inflatable doughnut.
The RNLI issued a warning that inflatables are not appropriate floatation devices after the incident at Ardesier, on the Moray Firth.
The alarm was raised by a passing walker who contacted Aberdeen coastguard at about 5pm on Saturday after growing concern.
The coastguard’s Stornoway-based helicopter Rescue 948, which had by chance been refuelling at Dalcross, assisted in the rescue by winching the teens on board and took them to an ambulance.
It is believed the teenagers entered the water around the golf course and drifted out to sea. The RNLI Kessock lifeboat arrived on the scene as they were being winched into the helicopter and recovered the inflatable.
Volunteer crew member and helmsman Douglas Munro said: “Saturday’s rescue highlights the dangers of using inflatables at the beach.
“The casualties were incredibly lucky to have been spotted by a walker on the beach who witnessed the teenagers drifting out to sea.”
