One man has died and two others are missing after a fishing boat overturned off the Fife coast.
The dead man has been named asBirrell Stewart, 30, of East Wemyss. He was rescued from the water and airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, but could not be saved.
Search teams are still scouring the estuary for signs of Jason Buchan, 35, who also lived in the village, and David Stead, who is understood to have moved to the area from Hartlepool.
The coastguard launched a search off the coast of East Wemyss when it was alerted by someone on the shore shortly before 5pm on Monday.
Mr Stewart was recovered from the water around a mile from the coast.
The small boat involved was also recovered in the East Wemyss area.
Lifeboats from Anstruther and Kinghorn were involved in the search, as well as the Rescue 131 RAF helicopter from Boulmer and three coastguard teams from Kinghorn, Leven and St Andrews.
Police said officers were in contact with the families of the missing men.
A force spokesman said: “Three men were reported missing after an afternoon of sailing amid concerns of worsening weather conditions.
“A full-scale search was launched by UK Coastguard which included a rescue helicopter based at RAF Boulmer, RNLI lifeboats from Kinghorn and Anstruther, Coastguard rescue teams from Kinghorn, St Andrews and Leven and police officers.
“A man was recovered from the water around 0.9 nautical miles out to sea from East Wemyss.
“He was immediately taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee by helicopter where he died a short time later around 1900 hours. The man has yet to be identified and Police Scotland is liaising closely with the families of the missing men.”
One eye-witness told The Courier shortly before 7pm: “I’ve just witnessed a body being pulled out the Forth by the Coastguard. Don’t know if he’s alive or dead.
“Rescue helicopter and Kinghorn lifeboat both been out searching the sea after a report of an upturned boat off Buckhaven.
“The helicopter has winched one man up. Lifeboat is still searching.
“Don’t know how many people they’re looking for. I’ve been watching through binoculars but can’t see any sign of a boat.”
The eye-witness added a short while later: “They’ve now found some debris and a small lantern and are circling looking for more casualties. Doesn’t sound good. Queensferry lifeboat en route now too. All rescue services are meeting at East Wemyss angling club.”
By 7.30pm it became clear that the boat was a Wemyss-registered blue dinghy fitted with an outboard motor. Such craft are not unusual off the Wemyss/Buckhaven coast.
At 7.40pm the empty craft was under tow by lifeboat while other lifeboat crews continued their search of the waters at least a mile offshore.
Levenmouth Fife councillor Tom Adams told The Courier he had been down to have a look after being made aware of the lifeboat and helicopter activity.
He said: “I hope everyone is ok. I’ve been down and it certainly looks like a very serious incident.”