A LOBSTER fisherman died after he and his son capsized off a Sutherland harbour yesterday.

The father, who was in his 50s, was airlifted to hospital and police later confirmed that he had died.

His son, in his 20s, managed to make his own way to shore and was released after being checked over on scene.

The alarm was raised around 3.50pm at Brora Harbour.

The pair of lobster fishermen were off the mouth of the River Brora.

A spokesman for Aberdeen Coastguard, which co-ordinated the rescue, said the son managed to make his own way ashore.

But the father was picked up from the water by another creel boat.

He was airlifted by the Inverness Coastguard search and rescue helicopter to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

But a spokeswoman for Police Scotland said it "can confirm that a man has died after a boat capsized in the harbour at Brora."

She added: "Police were informed of the incident shortly before 4.10pm and the man was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital where he sadly died. 

"Another man was treated by paramedics at the scene for minor injuries.

"The man's next of kin have been informed and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

The coastguard said it had received a 999 call asking to assist the capsized vessel outside Brora - and initially there were "possibly three or four people in the water."

Dornoch and Wick coastguard rescue teams were sent as well as the independent Dornoch inshore lifeboat.

The Wick team was sent back en route when the incident was resolved.