A child has been airlifted to hospital after three people were rescued from the water off Tentsmuir beach in Fife.
Lifeboats, a helicopter and an ambulance were called to the scene just before 1pm on Thursday.
Initial reports suggested all three people were taken to hospital, but it was later confirmed that only one person was taken to Ninewells for treatment.
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 1pm today to attend an incident at Tentsmuir.
“We dispatched one ambulance and our special operations team to the scene. One child patient was air lifted by the coastguard to Ninewells Hospital.”
The condition of those involved has not been confirmed.
Onlookers told how the coastguard helicopter landed on Tentsmuir beach, as children wrapped in towels were led to safety.
One woman said: “There was so much activity. There were lifeboats off the beach and then we saw the helicopter fly low above the beach.
“It landed and the lifeboat crews seemed to be bringing casualties to the shore to where paramedics and the helicopter crew were waiting for them.
People ‘watching on in horror’
“The beach was really busy at the time and a lot of people were watching in horror and shock as everything unfolded.
“I really hope everyone is OK but I think everyone was very concerned about what they were seeing.
“The people who were taken from the water looked to be very upset and distressed.
“It was horrible to see this happening while families were having a great day out.”
Another witness said: “It was really upsetting. I saw one child lying on the sand and then being taken onboard the helicopter.
“There were several coastguards on the beach and there were coastguard vehicles and an ambulance in the beach car park.
“The helicopter took off from the beach, I think with someone who was rescued onboard.”
It is the second time in 24 hours that the coastguard and lifeboats have been involved in a rescue at Tentsmuir.
On Wednesday two youngsters – who were part of a group kayaking – were taken to hospital as a precaution after getting into difficulty in the water.