BUSY WEEKEND FOR ABERDEEN COASTGUARD

A 34-year-old mother and her daughter were enjoying an afternoon stroll when they were swept into the water by a freak wave on 8 April 2001.

The pair were walking along the breakwater at Portnockie, Grampian, with two other people when they fell in.

A 19-year-old man who was part of the group jumped into the water to try to save them, while passers-by threw life rings into the water for the woman and child.

They clung to the rings and were dragged to the edge of the water, where they managed to climb to safety. They were taken to Buckie Hospital where they were treated for hypothermia.

Meanwhile, four divers had to be rescued after getting into difficulties while exploring a wreck off the east coast.

Members of the Edinburgh Diving Club alerted Forth Coastguard shortly after two of their members went missing in the water north-east of Bass Rock.

The divers, who had been exploring the well-known wreck the Royal Fusilier, were located by a helicopter from RAF Boulmer and rescued from the water by the North Berwick lifeboat crew.

But as the helicopter left the scene, the alarm was raised once again after two other divers went missing while exploring the same wreck. They were located by another dive boat and taken to the shore by the Dunbar inshore lifeboat.