False alarm in missing man search off north coast
REPORTS of someone in the water in Thurso Bay turned out to be a false alarm after a person suspected to be difficulties was later found safe and well.
Thurso Lifeboat crew received a distress call at 11.20am on Friday after Shetland Coastguard was informed of the sighting.
The alert was raised by an individual who reported briefly seeing someone in the water about 75 metres offshore at Thurso.
Worries grew when an unoccupied vehicle was found containing surfing equipment in the car park used by surfers at Thurso East.
Thurso RNLI launched its lifeboat, The Taylors, from Scrabster at 11.22am and was on scene within three minutes, where conditions were flat calm with good visibility.
The lifeboat launched its Y-boat with both vessels scanning the coast between Murkle and Holborn Head.
No sign of any person or a surfboard equipment could be seen in the water or along the coast.
At 1.30pm, the lifeboat crew learned that the owner of the vehicle had been tracked down safe and well at another surfing location, having travelled there with fellow surfers.
The lifeboat crew were then stood down and returned to station.