A 35-year-old male diver has died after getting into difficulty in a Highland loch.
The man is believed to have been scallop diving in Loch Eriboll on Tuesday afternoon when tragedy struck.
Workers from a nearby fish farm were alerted to the incident and a fellow diver dragged the casualty on to the shoreline.
Farm staff and the other diver carried out CPR on the man as emergency teams made their way north.
However, despite their best efforts, the man died at the scene.
Scottish Sea Farms’ Farm Manager for Loch Eriboll, Johnny Morrison, said: “Our farm staff are all trained first aiders so fish husbandry person Christopher Mackay took over CPR while Andrew Morrison, senior fish husbandry person, comforted the second man until the coastguard and rescue helicopter could arrive at the scene. The remainder of the farm team were on standby in their vessels.
“Heartbreakingly, despite further treatment and everyone’s best efforts, the man was unable to be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“On behalf of the Loch Eriboll farm team and all at Scottish Sea Farms, we would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life so tragically. Our thoughts are with them.”
A police spokeswoman confirmed the man’s sudden death “is being treated as unexplained pending the result of a post mortem”.
His death is not thought to be suspicious.
Emergency teams were first alerted to the incident around 1.20pm on Tuesday.
Coastguard teams from Melness, Durness and Kinlochbervie attended the scene alongside the Stornoway search and rescue helicopter, police and paramedics.
The incident comes less than 24 hours after a 68-year-old angler fell to his death down a gorge in Sutherland.
The fisherman was on the banks of the Corriemulzie River when he fell down a gully sustaining fatal injuries.