FIVE people have been rescued by helicopter near a sea stack on the island of Hoy after a search operation was launched in the early hours of the morning.
The alarm was raised early on Tuesday when the group did not return to the bothy where they were staying and someone else resting there rang police to report their concerns.
Police contacted the coastguard at 2.44am and the latter sent a helicopter and three coastguard rescue teams to the scene on the island in the Orkney archipelago.
READ MORE: Glasgow: Police and bomb squad at flat overnight as 80 evacuated
The helicopter spotted the five people on the shoreside close to cliffs near the Old Man of Hoy sea stack which stands 137m (449ft) high.
It airlifted them to safety, bringing them back to Moaness pier on Hoy.
They were said to be safe and well after their experience.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here