A woman was airlifted to hospital yesterday after a massive search and rescue operation was launched in the north-east.
It is understood the woman had gone missing while at the Bullers of Buchan near Cruden Bay which prompted police, coastguard and RNLI teams to begin searching the area – a popular walking and bird watching route.
A search and rescue helicopter was also scrambled to the scene and could be seen patrolling the skies before heading in the direction of Aberdeen at about 2pm.
A spokesman for the coastguard last night said the helicopter flew from Inverness to be at the operation.
He added: “At approximately 12.15pm this afternoon, Police Scotland requested assistance from UK Coastguard in relation to a missing person incident near Slains Castle.
“Peterhead, Aberdeen, Cruden Bay coastguard rescue teams, Peterhead RNLI all-weather lifeboat along with the coastguard search-and-rescue helicopter based in Inverness were sent to the area.
“The missing person was traced safely.”
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “The call was regarding a missing woman who has now been found.”
Inspector Simon Reid coordinated search efforts from a car park near the castle.
He said that the woman was found by rescuers and flown to Aberdeern Royal Infirmary as a “precaution”.
Slains Castle is a ruined 16th century tower house with overlooks the North Sea.
Rescue operations near the cliff face are not unusual.
Last year, teams had to scramble down the rocks to save a dog that had fallen down and become stranded.
The dog – a Jack Russell and West Highland Terrier cross – fell down a wall at the castle and became stranded.
The teams descended with ropes to retrieve the dog, which was safely reunited with its owner.