Man dies in Powderhall flat fire

A man has died after a fire in a flat in Powderhall this morning.

Around 40 firefighters tackled the blaze at Powderhall Rigg. Fire Control received a call at 9.50am to a report of a fire in the flat of a six-storey block.

40 firefighters tackled the blaze.

On arrival, firefighters discovered a two-storey flat (which is on the third and fourth floor) well alight and smoke billowing from the building. Four firefighters in breathing apparatus using one line of hose were despatched to fight the fire. Crews were also tasked with evacuating residents from neighbouring flats on the affected floors.

One male casualty was located by firefighters, but was pronounced dead at the scene. The affected flat where the fatality was discovered, was badly damaged by fire.

Five appliances, a height platform, Heavy Rescue Tender and Incident Support Unit were sent to the scene.

Search launched for windsurfer seen in difficulty near Cramond Island

A three-hour search was launched for a windsurfer who was seen in difficulty near Cramond Island.

Members of the public spotted the surfer near  at around 1pm on Tuesday and called the coastguard.

Rescue 177 from Prestwick searches near Silverknowes. (Picture: Michael Lindsay)

A spokesperson for the Forth Coastguard said “We received calls about a male Windsurfer who was having problems to the East of Cramond Island, we laucnehd the Queensferry Inshore Lifeboat, the all weather Lifeboat from Dunbar, Siera Oscar 10 (The Police search boat) and the Royal Navy search helicopter Rescue 177 was scrambled fromPrestwick. It would appear that the male my have made it ashore before our two hour search got underway.”

The RNLI from South Queensferry searches near Granton. (Picture: Michael Lindsay)

At 3.45pm, the search was stood down when the windsurfer was traced safe and well.