A fisherman has died after falling overboard from a fishing vessel in the North Sea.
John McTaggart fell into the North Sea from a fishing vessel around four miles east of Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The crew of the vessel contacted the coastguard to raise the alarm at 1.54am on Tuesday.
The coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Inverness and Aberdeen and Stonehaven RNLI lifeboats were sent to the scene about four miles east of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire.
Several commercial vessels that were in the area responded to mayday relay broadcasts and also helped in the search.
Police said the 45-year-old man was recovered from the sea and pronounced dead.
Detective sergeant Jill Anderson said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are very much with Mr McTaggart’s family and we would encourage respect for their privacy at this difficult time.”
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