Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation lifeboat in response to help stricken Nairn swimmer

A "SEVERELY hypothermic" swimmer was rescued from the waters of the Moray Firth last night after getting into difficulty near Nairn.

Emergency services were called out after the alarm was raised at 8.20pm.

A spokesman for the Coastguard confirmed that the Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (MIRO) lifeboat, the RNLI Kessock lifeboat, Coastguard teams from Inverness and Nairn, its rescue helicopter from Inverness, and units from the fire service and police, were all involved in the response to the incident.

A Coastguard spokesperson said: "We believe he had been swimming and got into difficulty and it was the helicopter rescue team that picked him up and took him to hospital."

Findhorn-based MIRO Rescue was launched after it was paged at 8.26pm by the Coastguard following the report of a casualty in the water east of Nairn Harbour.

HM Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 151 pulled the casualty from the water as MIRO Rescue and RNLI Kessock arrived.

It is understood the swimmer had been caught out by the tide and had been in the water for up to two hours.

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