Three people - including a child - were rushed to hospital after being rescued from the water off the coast of Fife.

A major emergency operation was launched on Thursday afternoon following a 999 call, which involved HM Coastguard, RNLI, a search and rescue helicopter and the Scottish Ambulance Service. 

The incident happened at around 1pm at Tentsmuir Sands.

St Andrews, Dundee and Leven coastguard rescue teams were sent to the scene. 

As well as the Broughty Ferry RNLI lifeboats and the search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick.

The Herald:

Three people were taken to hospital after they were recovered and a child was air lifted by the Coastguard to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. 

A Coastguard spokesperson said: "At approx. 1pm today (12 August), HM Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public concerned about three people in the water at Tentsmuir Sands, Fife.

"St Andrews, Dundee and Leven coastguard rescue teams were sent alongside the Broughty Ferry RNLI lifeboats and the search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick.

"Three people were recovered from the water and taken to hospital for assessment."

A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 1300 hours today to attend an incident at Tentsmuir.

“We dispatched one ambulance and our special operations team to the scene. One child patient was air lifted by the Coastguard to Ninewells Hospital.”