Woman found after major search on Fife coast during Storm Abigail

A missing person triggered an air, sea and land search during Storm Abigail on Thursday night.

Kinghorn RNLI Lifeboat crew was called out along with a helicopter on Thursday evening to scour the coastline in the search for a missing woman near Methil.

The lifeboat launched around 7pm and headed to East Wemyss in difficult conditions, just as storm Abigail was affecting the area.

The volunteer crew was requested to assist with a search between East Wemyss and Methil. Fortunately the woman was located soon after by Police Scotland, and the search was stood down.

Helmsman Scott McIlravie said: “We were tasked to undertake a shoreline search from East Wemyss, eastwards to Methil docks.

“The weather was deteriorating as we searched, with hazardous near shore conditions, as waves were breaking.

“Around 30 minutes after our search began we were advised that, fortunately, the missing person was located by police, ashore.”

Search teams from Kinghorn, Leven and St Andrews Coastguard rescue teams, along with local police teams, and the Police Scotland helicopter took part.