Port Seton: Coastguard launch search and rescue operation in East Lothian after reports of swimmer in trouble

Rescue teams from the Lothians and Fife were deployed to find the swimmer.

A major search and rescue operation was launched last night in a bid to find a swimmer who was reportedly in trouble in the Firth of Forth.

On Saturday 19 September, coastguard teams were seen scouring the East Lothian coastline around 8pm at Port Seton, Cockenzie and Prestonpans.

A rescue helicopter was deployed to aid in the search for the swimmer as well as Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) crews from Fife and North Berwick.

Coastguard officers along the Prestonpans shoreline. Picture: Contributed

A video clip filmed by a Prestonpans resident shows coastguard officers combing the shore with torches to find any signs of the person.

On Sunday morning the coastguard told the Edinburgh Evening News that no swimmer had been found during the operation.

In a statement on Saturday night, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “An extensive search and rescue operation is currently ongoing at Port Seton, East Lothian after HM Coastguard received a 999 call about a possible swimmer in difficulty.

“Kinghorn RNLI Lifeboat and RNLI North Berwick Lifeboat have been sent, along with coastguard rescue teams from South Queensferry Coastguard, North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team and Fisherrow Coastguard. The coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick was also sent.

“The report of the possible person in difficulty was made at around 7pm. If you were in the area at the time and have any information that could assist with this search, please contact our Aberdeen coastguard operations centre on 01224 592334 as soon as possible.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to the Edinburgh Evening News online and enjoy unlimited access to trusted, fact-checked news and sport from Edinburgh and the Lothians. Visit https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director