The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
St Andrews kite surfer blown offshore
The Broughty Ferry lifeboat was called to the aid of a kite surfer who had got himself into difficulty in the water off St Andrews yesterday evening.
Two crews from the Ferry lifeboat station were called to assist at St Andrews shortly after 6pm.
The kite surfer had been blown offshore by the strong winds while out at sea, and an RNLI Lifeguard from the local beach patrol used his paddle-board to initially see if the surfer required any assistance.
It is understood the kite surfer might have jettisoned his equipment after getting into bother in the choppy waters.
The gear was later recovered by the lifeboat crew and the man was able to return to the shore safely.
A dog walker who was on the beach when it happened said she saw a number of coastguard and lifeguard officials standing on the shore, while the large lifeboat could be seen out at sea.
She said: “At first I saw the lifeguard and some men in blue drysuits standing on the beach, and thought it might be an exercise or a drill.
“I then heard that the lifeguard had paddled out to see if the male kite surfer was alright.
“He had apparently got himself stuck so he abandoned his kite.
“I think someone onshore called the coastguard, not the lifeguards themselves.
“It looked like the person had been blown or swept out towards Tentsmuir, as a small rib did go off in that direction at one point.”
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “A kite surfer was blown offshore and two lifeboats from Broughty Ferry were called to assist.
“Two lifeguards brought the man to shore and the lifeboat assisted in bringing the equipment back to dry land.”