Volunteer lifeboat crews executed a dramatic rescue on Sunday morning, saving a man who was left stranded on an inflatable mattress in the chilly waters off the coast of Edinburgh.
Emergency Call in the Firth of Forth
The Queensferry RNLI Lifeboat was alerted to the emergency at 9.18am on Sunday morning. The casualty was reported to be in difficulty east of Cramond Island in the Firth of Forth. The man, who was fully clothed, had already fallen into the water, which had a temperature of approximately 7°C, but had managed to clamber back onto the air mattress.
According to the RNLI, the individual had been on the water since around 8am and was found to be "wet and extremely cold" by the time the rescue team located him. The volunteer crew successfully recovered the man onto their lifeboat.
Rapid Response and Safety Warning
Once aboard, the casualty was immediately wrapped up to preserve his body heat. The crew quickly assessed that he needed urgent medical attention, requiring an ambulance and a rapid evacuation. The lifeboat then sped to Granton Harbour in north Edinburgh.
There, the man was handed over to the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service and its Special Operations Response Team (SORT), alongside the South Queensferry Coastguard Rescue Team.
Volunteer Helm Stewart Atkinson issued a stark warning following the rescue. "It was lucky that we got there when we did," he said, "as the casualty was extremely cold and was drifting further offshore, with the tide and offshore wind."
Critical Safety Advice Issued
Mr Atkinson emphasised that "blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea", where they can be rapidly blown away from the shore. He urged anyone planning activities in or on the water to take essential precautions.
His key safety advice includes:
- Always check the weather forecast and tide conditions before heading out.
- Be aware that conditions can be significantly worse further offshore, even if they seem calm near the land.
- Always wear a personal flotation device.
- Ensure you wear clothing suitable for the forecasted weather and water temperature.
"If you get into trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard," he concluded. This incident marked the fourth emergency call-out of 2026 for the Queensferry Lifeboat station.
