A RESCUE helicopter was called out last night (Monday) to help in the search for a 'high risk' missing man.

Twenty Coastguard officers from Fisherrow, North Berwick and South Queensferry were alerted about a missing man near Cockenzie and Port Seton at about 10.40pm.

The Coastguard teams were split into three groups and began a search of the coast before being joined by RNLI crews from Kinghorn, in Fife, and North Berwick, as well as the Rescue 199 Coastguard Helicopter, from Prestwick.

A spokesman for Fisherrow Coastguard said: “A short time after the search began we received information that the casualty had been located.

“Coastguard Rescue teams made their way to the casualty to provide casualty care and to help extricate the casualty to a more accessible area.

“A landing site was prepared for Rescue 199 Coastguard Helicopter to allow the on-board paramedics to assess the casualty.

“The casualty was then transferred to an ambulance.

“Please remember in a coastal emergency, it’s 999 and ask for Coastguard.”