Woman, 24, rescued from sea by police and coastguards

Lerwick lifeboat, Shetland Coastguard and police were called to the rescue of a woman who was seen in the water at the end of Lerwick’s Sea Road early on Thursday morning.

A member of the public alerted police, who in turn called the coastguard at 8.27am. The lifeboat went to the incident and seven coastguard officers also attended, together with police.

The woman, who was up to her waist in the water, was taken into the lifeboat and conveyed to Lerwick harbour. From there she was transferred to a waiting ambulance and taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital. Her condition is not believed to be life threatening.

Police described the casualty as a “24-year-old intoxicated female” who had been seen lying in the water close to the shore at Sea Road. Their inquiries are continuing and no further details were available.

A spokesman for the coastguard said the water temperature at the time was 4C. He said: “Water at this temperature would significantly reduce the chance of survival if a person was in the water for any length of time”.