Missing canoeist dies after late night rescue

At 10.30pm on Sunday the RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat was called out to Silverknowes where two swimmers and two kayakers were in difficulty.

Forth Coastguard had been alerted by Lothian and Borders Police. The caller explained that they had made it ashore but two canoeists and two swimmers were in difficulty near Gipsy Bay, Granton.

Lothian and Borders Police, Scottish Ambulance and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service were in attendance training search lights on the water. One person had managed to get ashore and was checked out by the ambulance crew.

The Strathclyde Police helicopter was soon on the scene joining the search. Two others managed to get to the shore leaving one person missing.

The RNLI Kinghorn Lifeboat and the Search and Rescue helicopter from 131 Boulmer joined the search. The RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat Crew , which changed personnel at 1.30am were using sodium lights and used six paraflares in an  attempt to locate the missing kayaker.

The Search and Rescue helicopter located the kayak which was checked out by the RNLI Kinghorn Lifeboat .

Fifteen minutes after locating the boat, the missing kayaker was located at 2am and taken aboard the 131 Search and Rescue helicopter and flown to hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.