Lifeboat crews and a helicopter unit rescued two young boys after they got into trouble at Hopeman beach outside of Elgin.
A group of five friends were wading in the water when a boar tide knocked them off their feet. After one child was swept away, another bravely swam out to help him.
The pair, aged 11 and 14, perched on a rock while friends on the shore contacted the coastguard at 5.47pm.
‘Just in the nick of time’ – WATCH the dramatic moment #HMCoastguard Inverness helicopter race against a rising tide, as they swoop in and rescue two young boys, aged 11 and 14, who are clinging to rocks at #HopemanEastBeach #Elgin #allsafe #999Coastguard https://t.co/DqibRfKXNz pic.twitter.com/tx99TMgTyj
— Maritime&Coastguard (@MCA_media) June 7, 2018
Two lifeboats from Buckie and Moray stations raced to the scene, alongside an independently sailed lifeboat from the Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (MIRO).
Rescue helicopter 951 was dispatched from Inverness. The aircraft battled high winds and a rescuer abseiled down to pick the young boys up.
After being checked by paramedics, the pair are now safe and well, with one boy’s mother sending a “big thank you to the coastguard.”
She said: “The children acted very quickly but are understandably shaken up after the incident. I urge people not to swim in the sea, especially unaccompanied, as dangers can appear from nowhere.”
The rescue took place in under an hour, with the stop call coming in at 6.45pm.