A creel fisherman was found clinging to his capsized dinghy yesterday.

Rescuers said Ian Mackay, who was soaked to the skin, was lucky to be alive after his lightweight vessel overturned in a choppy Moray Firth.

The offshore scaffolder, 58, was a few hundred yards out from his home port of Buckie, Banffshire.

Ian Mackay was found clinging to his capsized dinghy in the Moray Firth

The alarm was raised just before midday and a volunteer RNLI crew quickly reached the stricken fisherman.

Lifeboat coxswain Alan Robertson said: “In these conditions, every second counts. It was very fortunate that people had spotted him from the shore.

“He’s a lucky man.”

Grateful father-of-two Ian made a donation to the RNLI.