Fraserburgh Lifeboat was called out today after a small fishing vessel sent out a distress signal.
The boat was two miles north of the shore and upon arrival the crew realised it was sinking fast.
The single male occupant was transferred safely aboard the lifeboat moments before his vessel submerged and sank.
Fraserburgh Lifeboat returned to the station with the male who was described as safe and uninjured.
The crew wrote on Facebook: “The boat took in too much water in too short a space of time to be saved but at least no–one was hurt.
“It shows how quickly conditions at sea can change and how situations can get very serious very quickly.
“The person aboard at the time did exactly the right thing when he suspected something was wrong and made a call for help.”