Man Dies And Two Missing After Fishing Vessel Overturns In Firth Of Forth

A fisherman has died and two others are missing after their boat overturned in the Firth of Forth.

The coastguard launched a search off the coast of East Wemyss, Fife, when it was alerted by someone on the shore shortly before 5pm on Monday.

It was stood down as darkness fell but resumed this morning, with local lifeboats searching the coastline.

One man, understood to be 30-year-old Birrell Stewart, was recovered from the water yesterday about a mile from the coast and was airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee but later died, Police Scotland said.

The boat involved, a 10ft-long fishing vessel, was also recovered in the East Wemyss area.

Lifeboats from Anstruther and Kinghorn were involved in the initial search, as well as the Rescue 131 RAF helicopter from Boulmer and three coastguard teams from Kinghorn, Leven and St Andrews.

Police said officers were in contact with the families of the missing men.

A force spokesman said: "Three men were reported missing after an afternoon of sailing amid concerns of worsening weather conditions.

"A full-scale search was launched by UK Coastguard which included a rescue helicopter based at RAF Boulmer, RNLI lifeboats from Kinghorn and Anstruther, Coastguard rescue teams from Kinghorn, St Andrews and Leven and police officers.

"A man was recovered from the water around 0.9 nautical miles out to sea from East Wemyss.

"He was immediately taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee by helicopter where he died a short time later around 7pm.

"The man has yet to be identified and Police Scotland is liaising closely with the families of the missing men."