Man taken to hospital after stand-off in water at Kirkcaldy esplanade
A major rescue swung into action in Kirkcaldy on Friday as a man threatened to end his life.
Negotiators and a friend boarded the Kinghorn lifeboat to talk the man back to safety.
- Published in the Courier : 07.01.12
- Published online : 07.01.12 @ 09.57am
The drama unfolded shortly before 3pm when the man, who has not been named, waded into the freezing waters of the Forth off the town's esplanade.
He was brought to safety about an hour later after police negotiators, aided by a friend of the man, convinced him to return to safety.
Shortly after he was brought back to shore he was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
Emergency vehicles lined the Esplanade as the two negotiators and the friend talked to the man from an RNLI lifeboat from Kinghorn.
A coastguard rescue team from Leven was on standby at the scene. The ambulance service also deployed an emergency support unit. Police cordoned off a stretch of the waterfront.
Meanwhile, a crowd of onlookers gathered as the sensitive operation took place.
Inspector Graham Seath from Fife Constabulary said: "This incident was brought to a successful conclusion with paramedics, coastguard, police and trained negotiators, who went out on the boat and managed to speak to him, along with a friend.
"He's been in the water all the time and obviously we do have concerns regarding hypothermia, and he is receiving treatment in hospital."
The man is understood to have been about waist-deep in the icy waters for the duration of the incident, and was believed to have swallowed pills.
An onlooker described him as standing on a sewage pipe and said there were fears he would slip off.
Following his rescue, he was being treated at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, and was believed to have suffered "no long-lasting effects" from his ordeal.
08.17am - 08.01.2012 Valentyna - Perth, Scotland Report This
What a sad story. Congratulations to all those involved in bringing this 'desperate' man to safety. What compassion. It brought tears to our eyes. We all have to go through 'hellfire' to come out stronger and we pray for a special blessing on his life and his friend. There IS hope.
05.32pm - 09.01.2012 JM - glenrothes, scotland Report This
Youcan also learn to help someone with thoughts of suicide. Anyone interested in learning how to do suicide first aid can do a suicide first aid course called ASIST - applied suicide intervention skills training. You don't need professional qualifications. See chooselife.net for details.
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