Teenagers drifting out to Moray Firth on inflatable doughnut near Ardersier are airlifted to safety
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TEENAGERS drifting out to sea on an inflatable doughnut were airlifted to safety yesterday by a rescue helicopter which happened to be close by refuelling.
The RNLI Kessock lifeboat was paged shortly before 5pm on Saturday by Aberdeen Coastguard after the incident was called in by a concerned member of the public who witnessed the pair drifting out to sea in the Moray Firth off the coast at Ardersier.
By chance, rescue helicopter 948 (Stornoway) was at Dalcross refuelling and was tasked and quickly on scene.
It is believed that the two teenage casualties had entered the water around the golf course and drifted out to sea, possibly pulled out by the receding tide.
The teenagers were airlifted by 948 which then landed on the shore where the casualties were safely passed to the awaiting coastguard ambulance personnel.
The Kessock lifeboat arrived on scene as the casualties were being winched and was tasked with recovering the inflatable.
The crew were stood down and returned to the North Kessock station where the The Robert and Isobel Mowat was cleaned, refuelled and made ready for service.
Volunteer crew member and helm Dougie Munro said: “Yesterday'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. The walker reacted quickly dialling 999 and the coastguard requested. A swift response by CG R948, local CG teams and Kessock lifeboat prevented what could have been a very different outcome."
He said the rescue underlines the RNLI’s message that inflatables are not appropriate flotation devices and should only be used at the beach with extreme caution, and ideally kept for the pool.
