Swimmer’s surprise over sea ‘rescue’

EMERGENCY crews who were scrambled to save a man from the sea were left red-faced when they realised he was simply enjoying a swim.

Two police officers wearing life jackets and carrying an inflatable kayak plunged into the sea at Portobello beach in Edinburgh and dragged the swimmer back to shore.

The RNLI and a coastguard rescue helicopter were also called out on Wednesday night after a 999 call from a concerned member of the public.

But after being hauled back to land, the man told police he was in no danger.

An RNLI spokesman said the report was ‘a false alarm with good intentions’.