Man dies after being pulled from Highland loch

RESCUE: Major operation saw victim airlifted to hospital

A 50-year-old man has died after being flown to hospital following an incident in a Highland Perthshire loch which sparked a major rescue operation yesterday afternoon.

It is believed kayakers helped the man when he fell into Loch Tummel near Pitlochry at around 2.30pm after sitting on rocks.

Fire crews, police, ambulance staff, paramedics, the Coastguard agency and a helicopter from Prestwick were all involved in the operation to rescue the man, who is from outwith the Tayside area.

He was brought ashore by his rescuers near the Victoria Bridge around 3.35pm and then flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by air ambulance.

Despite the efforts of emergency services at the scene and medics at the hospital, Police Scotland confirmed late last night that the man had died in hospital.

They said his family had been informed and no further details of the victim would be released at this stage.

In the wake of the rescue operation a police spokesman said members of Edinburgh Kayak Club had gone to the aid of the man.

Fire crews in the specialised water rescue unit were also deployed in the emergency operation.

And a spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency added: “We got a call at about 2.40pm and were told that somebody had fallen into the water.

“We sent the Prestwick Coastguard helicopter along with what looks like two helimeds.

“The casualty was recovered from the water after falling from rocks.”

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We got a call at about 2.40pm and were told that somebody had fallen into the water. MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY