15 minutes between safety and tragedy following Hopeman rescue

Two young boys, aged 11 and 14, were left clinging to a rock in the sea off Hopeman East Beach have been winched to safety in the nick of time by the Inverness HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter.

Concerned for the boys was raised just after 5.45pm on Wednesday 6th June to say there was a person in the water and one on the rocks in difficulty. HM Coastguard co-ordinated the rescue which also involved Burghead Coastguard and Buckie Lifeboat along with the Moray Inshore Rescue team.

It is believed one of the children got into difficulty whilst swimming in the sea and made his way to the rocks. His friend swam out to help him and stayed with him on the rocks as the tide quickly started to rise.

Once on scene, it took the skill of the Inverness Coastguard helicopter just under 3 minutes to swoop in and rescue the two kids, taking them to the nearby beach.

Speaking after the incident Kaimes Beasley, Duty Controller for HM Coastguard said: "This incident could easily have turned into a really tragic one"

"One of the boys had already been washed off the rocks once and thankfully managed to clamber back on. We think that it only would have taken another 15 minutes for the rock to be fully covered by the rising sea and the boys would have been in the water"

"Remember if you see someone in trouble at sea or along the coast call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, but thankfully, this rescue ended well and the boys were reunited with their families safe and well, despite their frightening ordeal"