A man has died after reportedly falling overboard from a fishing vessel off the Aberdeenshire coast.
Emergency services including a coastguard helicopter and lifeboat crews were called to the North Sea - around four miles east of Stonehaven - just before 2am today.
The man's body was later recovered.
A police spokesperson said: "Around 3.15am, police were called to reports of a man having fallen into the sea from a fishing vessel near Stonehaven.
"Emergency services attended and a 45-year-old man was recovered from the sea and pronounced dead.
"Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."
The coastguard says it was contacted by the crew of a fishing boat at 1.54am about a man having fallen overboard.
It says several commercial vessels that were in the area responded to the mayday call and assisted in the search.
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