A man has died after trying to rescue a dog that may have been spooked by fireworks at Aberdeen Beach.
Coastguards, paramedics and police were scrambled to the scene at about 7pm last night following reports a person was in the water.
The 33-year-old was recovered from the water at around 9pm. He was taken to hospital where he later died.
It is understood he entered the water after a dog which – reports suggest – was frightened by fireworks.
A police spokeswoman confirmed: “Around 7.15pm on Tuesday November 1, police were called to a report of concern for a man at Beach Esplanade, Aberdeen.
“The 33-year-old man was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was pronounced dead a short time later. ”
Police said there are no suspicious circumstances, and that a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.
It is not yet known if the dog survived the incident.
Rescue mission
Coastguard teams from Aberdeen, Stonehaven and Cruden Bay, Aberdeen lifeboat crews, coastguard rescue helicopters from Inverness and an offshore helicopter, rescue divers and five police vehicles were sent to Aberdeen Beach Esplanade.
They were seen scanning the dark water in the area between Burger King and the harbour to locate the missing person and carrying out inquiries along the beach.
At the time, a spokesman from Aberdeen coastguard said: “Shortly after 7pm this evening HM Coastguard received a call about a person in the water at Aberdeen beach.
“Coastguard rescue teams from Aberdeen, Stonehaven and Cruden Bay were sent to help with RNLI lifeboat from Aberdeen.
“Coastguard rescue helicopter from Inverness and an offshore helicopter also attended the incident.
“The person was recovered from the water by coastguard rescue team and passed onto the care of the ambulance service medical team.”
Latest victim of the North Sea
On Wednesday, the beachfront was quiet with emergency services having left the night before.
One passer by, who was walking her dog along the beach, said she had heard about the incident and that it was “dreadful”.
The 33-year-old is the latest victim of the North Sea, with changeable weather often the main cause for dangerous conditions in water.
In 2019, two women tragically died after finding themselves in difficulty at Aberdeen beach – despite lifeboat crews’ extensive efforts to save them.
Karolina Katarzyna Pisarska, 36, and Luiza Koniuszy, 22, who were originally from Poland but living in Aberdeen, were recovered from the water and died in hospital on April 19.
Three years prior, Julie Walker and her six-year-old son Lucas died after they were pulled out of the sea during a massive rescue operation at Aberdeen beach.
The 37-year-old had been playing on a stretch of the sea wall with her two sons when Lucas fell into the sea.
His mother, brother Samuel and several other selfless members of the public – including off-duty police officers – went in to try and save him.
However, they both later died in hospital.
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