Watch the incredible moment a volunteer lifeboat crew rescued a person stranded on an inflatable mattress in Scottish waters.
Responding to the incident in the Firth of Forth on Sunday morning, the RNLI leapt into action after a person drifted into dangerously cold waters near Cramond Island.
Queensferry Lifeboat was called out at 9.18am following reports of someone in difficulty attempting to reach the island.
The individual had fallen into the water but managed to climb back onto the inflatable.
With sea temperatures hovering around 7C and an offshore wind pushing the casualty further from shore, crews raced to reach them before conditions worsened.
This marked the station’s fourth callout of 2026.
The casualty had been adrift since 8am, spending over an hour exposed to the frigid conditions before help arrived.
When crew members reached them, the person was soaking wet and suffering from severe cold.
The Queensferry RNLI Lifeboat has rescued a person stranded on an inflatable mattress
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RNLI
Volunteers quickly brought the individual aboard and wrapped them in blankets to restore warmth.
Given the casualty’s deteriorating condition, the crew determined that hospital treatment was urgently needed.
The lifeboat headed directly to Granton Harbour at full speed, where paramedics from the Scottish Ambulance Service were waiting alongside the South Queensferry Coastguard Rescue Team and specialist response officers.
The vessel was back in service by 11.15am.
The RNLI managed to get the person on board after being stranded on the inflatable
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RNLI
Stewart Atkinson, the volunteer helm who led the rescue, warned that the incident demonstrated the dangers of using pool inflatables in open water.
“It was lucky that we got there when we did, as the casualty was extremely cold and was drifting further offshore, with the tide and offshore wind,” he said.
“This incident highlights that blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea where they can quickly be blown offshore.”
He urged people to check weather forecasts and tidal conditions before venturing out, noting that conditions can deteriorate rapidly away from the shoreline.
This marks Queensferry Lifeboat’s fourth callout of 2026 so far
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RNLI
Mr Atkinson cautioned: “Always check the forecast and tide conditions, be aware that conditions inshore may seem fine, but further offshore they can be significantly worse.
“Always wear a Personal Flotation Device and make sure you are also wearing clothing suitable for the forecasted weather.
“If you get into trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”