Fisherman airlifted to hospital after North Sea rescue

A fisherman has been airlifted to hospital after he was rescued from the North Sea.

A major search was launched after another fisherman found an empty vessel just outside Macduff harbour at around 12.40pm on Wednesday.

The HM Coastguard Inverness helicopter, Macduff and Buckie RNLI lifeboats and the Banff Coastguard Rescue Team were involved in the search.

The helicopter spotted the missing fisherman in the water just before 1.30pm and he was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

A number of vessels in the area also joined in the search after responding to a mayday relay broadcast issued by the coastguard.