Coastguard called to boat fire near Stonehaven Harbour

The coastguard and emergency services attended a boat fire near Stonehaven Harbour.

Aberdeen Coastguard received reports of a boat on fire between Stonehaven Harbour and Dunnottar Castle at 2.45pm today.

Scottish Fire and Rescue said they were alerted but were not called to the scene.

Teams from Aberdeen and Stonehaven were scrambled to help tackle the blaze on the 40ft sailing boat near the cliffs. The Scottish Ambulance Service also attended.

Stonehaven lifeboat was dispatched to pick up the one casualty who was on board the vessel and had abandoned ship to a life raft.

The Aberdeen coastguard helicopter was also called to the scene but returned to base after the casualty was picked up and declared as safe.

During the incident, the coastal path between Dunnottar Castle and Stonehaven Harbour was closed off by the coastguard.

Once the boat washed up on the rocks hours later, Montrose Coastguard made sure the vessel was safe.