TWO people have been winched to safety by helicopter in a dramatic rescue after thier boat ran aground on rocks near an Aberdeenshire harbour.
The pair issued a mayday call after getting into difficulty off Whitehills, Aberdeenshire, at around 1.20pm on Friday.
They managed to clamber on to the rocks after the vessel ran aground in heavy swell.
The coastguard said Macduff RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard teams from Portsoy and Banff went to the scene, along with an oil industry search and rescue helicopter from Aberdeen and a local fishing vessel.
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In difficult sea conditions, it was decided that helicopter Bond 1 would winch the crew from the rocks to safety.
The helicopter winched the two men off the rocks and flew them back to land.
They were dropped off in the Whitehills area with no apparent injuries.
However, the same lifeboat was then called back out in response to a report of two people at the boat, which had been left aground on the rocks.
With concern for their safety, the lifeboat stood by while the two people were persuaded to come ashore by the coastguard.
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Macduff coxswain Chassey Findlay said: "I am concerned that after an operation with a rescue helicopter and a lifeboat, someone would think it was sensible to go and put themselves in danger in the situation and location that had been the focus of a rescue operation only a short time earlier.
"I have to stress that human life is worth more than any vessel and this afternoon could have turned out very differently."
Helmsman James West said: "The crew of the casualty vessel were fortunate that the lifeboat and helicopter were both available to assist them when they ran aground this afternoon. While the casualty appears to be not too far from land, the waters around this part of the coast can be quite unpredictable, with lots of rocky outcrops and crags that can’t always be seen, it is quite easy for waves to come at you from unexpected directions."
Macduff Lifeboat operations manager Roy Morrison added: "It was unfortunate that the casualty vessel ran aground this afternoon, but the lifeboat and helicopter were on hand to rescue the crew from any danger quickly and effectively.
"To be called out a second time to the same location is disappointing and worrying. Our lifeboat volunteers and members of our partners in the coastguard go out in all weathers and any time of day or night to assist people in danger, we do not expect to be called back to the same location to assist people for a second time with such a short space of time."
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