Major RNLI Search off St Andrews Coast

Image courtesy of the Saint

On the evening of Saturday 19 September, a major search for a missing kite surfer was launched off the coast of St Andrews. 

A co-ordinated rescue was undertaken by two RNLI lifeboat crews, three coastguard teams, and the HM Coastguard helicopter.

The incident was reported just before 6pm on Saturday evening, with lifeboat crews launching from Dundee and Arbroath at approximately 5:50pm. 

Two coastguard teams launched from Leven and Kinghorn, just south of St Andrews, with a third sent to the scene from St Andrews. The Coastguard helicopter was mobilised from Prestwick Airport, located southwest of Glasgow.

Data from Flightradar24 showed the helicopter circling the area east of West Sands beach, with tracking from the RNLI app showing that the lifeboats were circling the same area.

According to a statement from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the search concluded shortly after 10pm, when the kite surfer confirmed they were safe and well ashore.