A man was dramatically pulled from the icy waters of Loch Ness by a lifeboat crew after his kayak capsized in rough weather.
Steve McQueen was left clinging to his upturned for nearly 20 minutes – long enough to numb his limbs and prevent him from swimming to the shore just a few yards away.
He was in the early stages of hypothermia when RNLI rescuers reached him and dragged him onboard their vessel.
Yesterday, members of the mercy crew who saved his life said the kayaker was “lucky” because his floatation device and a wet weather suit protected him from the very cold temperatures.
Mr McQueen and friend Simon Bilcox set out from Fort Augustus paddling north up the famous loch.
But conditions deteriorated around Urquhart Bay, near Drumnadrochit, and Mr McQueen’s boat capsized as the pair tried to reach the shore.
He was left clinging to his kayak, desperately trying to make sure he was not swept on to nearby rocks.
Mr Bilcox made it to dry land and raised the alarm. The local cruise boat, the Jacobite Warrior, provided a detailed position and two passing yachts also responded.
The lifeboat, which is stationed nearby, was on the scene quickly and managed to haul Mr McQueen aboard.
The coastguard helicopter from Inverness was also scrambled and arrived on scene around the same time as the lifeboat.
Martin Douglas, spokesman for Loch Ness RNLI, said: “The waves were getting aggressive and harsh.
“They were experienced and had good gear but this goes to show that things like this can still happen.
“But he was getting hammered by the waves.”
The three-strong crew took Mr McQueen, who is from Edinburgh, back to base where other lifeboat members tried to heat him up, using a warm shower and drinks.
Meanwhile as the boat crew was heading back to pick up Mr Bilcox from the rocky shoreline, they received reports of an upturned canoe further north and went to investigate.
It emerged that a group of holidaymakers had also run into bad weather but had made it to shore safely.
Mr Douglas praised helm Gary McLeod for skilful seamanship and Vivian Bailey for her ropework during Saturday’s rescue.
He said: “We had the best outcome in what was an exciting and challenging technical rescue.”
Meanwhile, a diver was airlifted to hospital after getting into difficulties in the Highlands.
He was stranded in Loch Hourn, north of Mallaig, on Saturday afternoon.
He was rescued by an air ambulance crew, who pulled him from the water.
He was originally spotted by the crew of a nearby boat, however the vessel was unable to reach him so put out a mayday call.
Another boat, Cool Esla, picked up the signal and reported it to Stornoway Coastguard.
However, with the coastguard unable to pinpoint exactly where it had come from, the boat which had originally made the mayday went back to shot and an ambulance was called.
The air ambulance was sent to the scene and the diver was pulled from the water and flown to hospital.