Angler feared dead after plunge

AN ANGLER was feared dead last night after he was apparently swept out to sea early yesterday while fishing on the north-east coast.

A major search and rescue operation was launched for the Polish man in waters around Aberdeen.

The alarm was raised at about 6.15am.

The search was called off at about 11.15am.

Rescuers said the very longest a man could survive in the sea at this time of year was two to three hours.

Emergency services were told the angler had fallen into the water as he fished with a friend off Red Rock Cove, at Altens, south of Aberdeen.

Two lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams from Aberdeen, Portlethen, Stonehaven and Gourdon were scrambled. An RAF search and rescue helicopter crew used night vision goggles and police also attended.

The search remained close to shore because of the prevailing weather conditions.

A spokeswoman for Aberdeen Coastguard said: “The search was terminated at about 11.15am.

“At that time we had to stand everyone down. The area had been thoroughly searched.

“They continued searching way beyond any estimated survivability time. “

Jim Ferguson, spokesman for the Aberdeen lifeboat station, warned sea anglers to make sure they were properly prepared and urged them to go fishing with at least two others.