Two women were rescued yesterday after their dingy capsized and left them stranded on a river island.
The pair and another woman were sailing down the River Dee, between Drumoak and Culter, when they overturned at about 1.50pm.
Coastguard teams, paramedics and an air ambulance were scrambled to the scene, although the helicopter was quickly stood down.
One of the women is believed to have managed to swim to shore, while the other two were left stuck on one of the islands in the Craiglug area.
Rescuers used the trio’s own dingy to lead the pair across the water to safety.
Fire station manager Ben Law said the group, who were wearing everyday clothes rather than wet suits, were “shaking uncontrollably” when they arrived back on dry land.
They were wrapped up in blankets and taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as a precaution.
Mr Law said: “We initially got the call from the ambulance service to a water incident in the River Dee.
“It was three girls in the water and we responded with appliances from Banchory, Stonehaven and Elgin.
“We attended and found one casualty on the river bank and her two companions on an island in the middle of the river.”
The Aberdeen Coastguard team and firefighters used the women’s inflatable dingy and a pulley to bring the stranded pair back to dry land.
A coastguard spokesman said: “We initially thought it was better to use a helicopter to get them off the island, and sent for the coastguard helicopter from Inverness. But those that arrived on scene managed to rescue the girls.
“There were two girls stuck on the island recovered back to the bank by a combination of police and coastguards.
“Paramedics on the scene did an assessment, and thought it was best having further treatment and they were taken down to the hospital by road ambulance.
“If you have been in the water and it is cold, there is the possibility of hypothermia.”
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service added: “The three women were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as a precaution but there were no injuries.”
