A wounded motorcyclist who wandered off following a crash on a Moray road was eventually traced following a search through fields by police and paramedics.
Emergency services attended the collision involving two motorbikes between Elgin and Lossiemouth on Thursday night.
One man required hospital treatment and was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital, around one mile away.
However, another biker with suspected head injuries refused medical assistance at the scene and swiftly departed – saying he would make his own way to the hospital on Elgin’s West Road.
His disappearance sparked a search involving police officers and paramedics who were concerned about his condition.
Armed with torches, the emergency services staff searched the windswept and rainy fields surrounding the crash site in an effort to locate the man.
Police feared he was suffering from concussion, and stressed that they were only interested in tracking him down in the interests of his own safety.
Yesterday, a police spokeswoman confirmed that the bamboozled biker was tracked down “shortly after” disappearing.
Police also confirmed that his injuries were not serious.
“The man was traced shortly after the incident, and did not need to be taken to hospital,” she said.
“Inquiries into the collision are ongoing.”
The crash occurred shortly after 5pm on the A941 Elgin to Lossiemouth road.
The bikes were part of a motorbike convoy when the collision took place, and the others had continued onwards unaware that the accident had taken place.
The crash meant that some revellers attending a fireworks display at Spynie were delayed in reaching the event that evening.