Six-year-old boy rescued from Tay by Broughty lifeboat.

BROUGHTY FERRY: Adult and youngster got into trouble paddleboarding in the Tay

A six-year-old boy was rescued off the coast of Dundee during a busy weekend for local lifeboat crews.

The youngster was one of three people who got into trouble in the River Tay, at Broughty Ferry beach, on Saturday afternoon.

It is understood the boy was on a paddleboard, along with an adult, when the alarm was raised at 1.30pm.

The Broughty Ferry RNLI’S inshore crew came to the rescue after being notified by the UK Coastguard. A kayaker also rushed to the assistance of the pair and looked after them until the rescuers arrived. Neither of the paddleboarders needed medical attention.

However, the RNLI team had to return to help the kayaker as well after he started taking on water. He was returned to the beach safely.

At the start of the weekend, two boats from RNLI’S Anstruther station were scrambled to the aid of a stricken windsurfer.

He had been spotted by a resident in the town, who had been looking out to sea with their telescope.

Lifeboat crews found the surfer about 10 miles off the Fife coast.

The identity of the person who called the emergency services has not been revealed, but RNLI Anstruther volunteer crew member Shelley Watson said the lifeboat crews and indeed the windsurfer in question were grateful for their quick-thinking.

“We would like to praise the efforts of the caller who not only spotted the windsurfer in difficulty but dialled 999 and asked for the Coastguard,” she said.

The windsurfer, who is said to be in his 50s, is understood to have left Crail at around 5pm and was heading in the direction of North Berwick when the wind suddenly dropped, slowing his progress.

Once located by the Anstruther crews, the decision was taken to escort the surfer to Dunbar, although the UK Coastguard asked Dunbar’s inshore lifeboat (ILB) crew to help guide the Anstruther ILB into Dunbar harbour as the narrow entrance there was unfamiliar to the Fife crew who were now being forced to contend with blustery conditions and waves of up to two metres.

A spokesman for the RNLI at Dunbar said the surfer was “experienced” and “well equipped” for his planned journey, and the decision was made to take him into Dunbar rather than back to Anstruther for safety reasons.