UPDATE AT 8.55pm
HM Coastguard coordinated the response to a report made at about 4.55pm on 28 May of two girls in difficulty in the water off Portobello beach.
Two HM Coastguard helicopters were sent as well as Coastguard Rescue Teams from South Queensferry, North Berwick and Fisherrow, and RNLI lifeboats from Queensferry and Anstruther. Police Scotland attended.
After an extensive search, no one was found to be in distress and the HM Coastguard response was stood down at about 8.55pm, pending any new information
The Shannon class lifeboat based at Anstruther, the all-weather lifeboat Robert and Catherine Steen, was launched on Thursday evening to an emergency call at Portobello.
The lifeboat was observed in the sea near the beach patrolling up and down.
The Scotsman reports that two girls are lost in the water.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said that two helicopters have been sent to the beach along with Coastguard Rescue Teams from South Queensferry, North Berwick and Fisherrow.
At 8.45 pm a second boat – from RNLI Queensferry – was underway towards Portobello.
A spokesperson from RNLI said: “Lifeboats from Queensferry and Anstruther RNLI lifeboat stations were tasked by HM Coastguard to an incident off Portobello beach around 5pm on Thursday 28 May.”
Both lifeboats remain on the scene. This is an ongoing incident…
