Daring lifeboat volunteers from Fraserburgh brave all weather conditions when duty calls on them for a rescue – even if their casualty is a seabird.
During a routine man overboard exercise, the crew of the Trent class Willie and May Gall lifeboat spotted a razorbill in distress.
Overcome by their instinct to help a stricken casualty in the water, the crew brought the bird aboard the lifeboat and transported it back to the station on the town’s Shore Road.
Coxswain Victor Sutherland said: “During a man overboard exercise during training this evening we became aware of a little seabird in distress.
“Instead of flying away this little fellow didn’t look as though he could fly and actually seemed to be struggling towards us, obviously in need of some assistance, as if he was trying to get on board the boat.”
Mr Sutherland, a lifeboat veteran who has served as coxswain for more than a decade, said his colleagues brought the creature onto the deck of the vessel.
“In all my years at the lifeboat I’ve never seen a bird want out of the water like that. As soon as we put the bucket in the water it pretty much jumped in.
“We couldn’t just leave him there so we took him back to the lifeboat station.
“Once on dry land volunteer crew member MartenRitchie took him home and contacted the local RSPB who came and took him to stay at their place overnight.
“Marten is hopeful that he will survive as he began to get a lot more lively as he warmed up.”
Mr Sutherland added: “We are all keeping our fingers crossed.”
Last night a spokeswoman for the SSPCA confirmed that the razorbill has been moved to the charity’s Fishcross national wildlife rescue centre.
She added that the bird is “quite thin” but is receiving treatment.
Mr Sutherland and his lifeboat crew have been leading safety lessons with local school children ahead of the summer holidays.
The crew, who have previously been called to rescue youngsters from the water off Fraserburgh’s popular beach, are encouraging people to have fun responsibly and “never be afraid to ask for help”.
To contact the lifeboat in an emergency, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.