Sent in by John Kinsman
Lifeboat called to rescue youth featured image shows the Anstruther lifeboat
Fife Lifeboat crews were called into action to rescue a youngster who had become cut off and stranded on rocks and a rising tide at St Monans. The volunteer crew at Anstruther Lifeboat station were scramble to help rescue the teenager who had become stranded on rocks near St Monans church.
The lifeboat made the short journey along the coast and located the boy who was stuck on the rocks and unable to cross back due to the rising water. After an assessment the boy was helped to the lifeboat by crew members and returned to St Monans Harbour where he passed into the care of HM Coastguards.
Coastwatch St Monans team were alerted to keep visual from the shoreline. Coastwatch St Monans spokesperson said, “This was a straight forward rescue for the team. The young land was stranded on the rocks for a considerable time before the alarm was raised. In these situations we urge anyone in difficulty around the coast to dial 999 and ask for the coastguards.”
Seal Rescue
Coastwatch St Monans team were paged on 16th February to go to the aid of a badly injured seal. The alarm was raised by members after the wee visitor was located on rocks a few hundred yards from the coastwatch station on the coastal path to the east of the village. On arrival on scene the coastwatch team clambered over the rocks to assess the seal which had suffered serious injuries.
The coastwatch team put an urgent call into the SSPCA who sent an officer to the location. After assessment by the SSPCA it was decided to take the injured seal to the SSPCA Wildlife centre to be treated for its injuries and to be looked after. The Coastwatch St Monans team helped to carry the injured seal to safety. The latest news is the seal is said to be doing well.
Dead Birds and Seals
A local lady and her children out for a short walk along a Fife beach was horrified to come across dead sea birds, seals and a dolphin, some of them headless, along the Fife shoreline. The lady alerted the emergency services, at present there is no explanation what caused the death or terrible injuries. The lady said it was the most distressing thing she had witnessed and upsetting for her young children. The animals were later removed for tests.
Marine Correspondent John Kinsman
Coastwatch St Monans operations manager and Voice for Arran correspondent John Kinsman has been accepted as an associate member of the British Association for Immediate Care.
John has been officer in charge of the Coastwatch St Monas since 2009 and writing marine items for Voice for Arran for over 20 years.
Picture shows John Kinsman, station manager of Coastwatch St Monans