A huge search operation was launched by the Coastguard yesterday off the North East coast. It came after a man overboard beacon started transmitting just after 3pm yesterday (7th Aug).

The Peterhead costguard issued the below statement through their Facebook page.

At 15.28 hours the teams pagers went off for a Man overboard beacon.

The team stopped what they were doing and left there work to respond to their pagers.

They were tasked to a Man over board beacon which had been picked up from a supply vessel and the mast at windyhead.

The Team were told a location to start a shoreline search for any sign of debris or life raft in the water.

2 search teams were deployed …

1 from roanheads to make there way north and the other from the golf club, along the beach towards rattray.

After a few hours searching nothing was found and all assets were stood down

Also in attendance were Fraserburgh CRT, Banff CRT, Fraserburgh lifeboat, Buckie lifeboat, Macduff lifeboat and SAR Helicopter Rescue 151.

Teams stood down at 18.23 hours pending further information.