Sent in by John Kinsman, operations manager at Coastwatch St Monans
Major Rescue
A major rescue operation was launched in the Firth of Forth in the early hours of Thursday December 10th after a woman was spotted in the water. Emergency services including police, fire fighters, ambulance, lifeboats, coastguard and coastwatch were involved following reports of concern for a person at Kirkcaldy esplanade.
HM Coastguards were contacted by police shortly after 5 am and tasked Kinghorn, Leven, and South Queensferry Coastguards, and lifeboat crews from Kinghorn Queensferry and Anstruther as the incident unfolded.
Kinghorn Lifeboat was first on scene but members of Leven coastguard team were first to locate a 19 year old woman at the water’s edge and pull her out. She was treated at the scene by paramedics and then rushed to hospital by ambulance. A police spokesman said, “officers received a report of concern for a 19 year old woman at around 5 am on Thursday 10th December. The woman was later traced to the promenade in Kirkcaldy. Emergency services attended and the woman was rescued from the water and taken to hospital.”
The early morning drama woke many locals living near the seafront with the coastguard rescue helicopter also called to assist in the rescue operation. It was not required after the woman was found by Leven Coastguard team. All emergency services were stood down at around 7am.
Coastwatch Busy
St Monans Coastwatch team had a busy December with several incidents which included a search for one missing person, an overdue kayaker, and checking on debris in a harbour. The St Monan’s team who attended incidents were operations manager John Kinsman, deputy manager Anne Kinsman, 2nd deputy manager John McLean and team members Beth McLean, Bob McDonald, Karen Dodson, Cameron McDonald and Kevin McBain.
Also repair work was completed on the recent storm damage done to the coastwatch station.
Coastwatch St Monans team have been granted key worker status by HM Coastguards which allows the volunteers to travel to incidents to and from their lookout station.
Harbour Busy
Despite the Covid 19 the harbours of St Monans and Pittenweem have been fairly busy. At Pittenweem Harbour local prawn fishing boats have been working the Firth of Forth with some good catches landed. At St Monans Harbour local creel boats have been working almost everyday checking and emptying their creel pots. Landings of lobster and crabs have been steady.
Local boat owners have been carrying out maintenance on their vessels which are in winter storage on the harbours middle pier.
Finally John Kinsman, Marine Correspondent, would like to wish all readers of Voice for Arran a happy 2021 and thank you for reading my news items.
Featured image shows creel boat of St Monans.