An angler has said he is "lucky to be alive" after he slipped on rocks and was swept out to sea.
John Dailly, 54, said time was running out for him when he was plucked from the water by rescuers.
The Edinburgh man was wearing a flotation suit but it was unzipped and he revealed that he cannot swim.
His friend Billy Craig, 49, raised the alarm and coastguards, who directed a lifeboat to the scene, also said he was "very lucky" to have survived.
Mr Dailly fell into the water off Portlethen on Sunday morning and was swept away by strong currents.
Mr Craig alerted a woman resident who called the Aberdeen and Portlethen Coastguard rescue teams at 0024 GMT and the Aberdeen RNLI lifeboat was launched.
A helicopter was also scrambled but was later stood down before arriving at the scene at Old Portlethen harbour.
"I kept swallowing water and big waves were crashing over my head flinging me from side to side"
John said: "It all happened so quickly, one minute I was on the shore and the next I lost my grip on a slimy rock and fell in.
"But I can't swim and I hadn't zipped up my jacket. I tried to clamp it together so I would float but within minutes my hands were frozen and I couldn't feel a thing.
"I kept swallowing water and big waves were crashing over my head flinging me from side to side.
"Then my head light went off. Thoughts of my family flashed through my head - I thought I was going to drown.
"But luckily, by chance, my light came on again and they found me. They were brilliant, I'm just so lucky to be alive."
A team from Aberdeen Coastguard started firing flares and enough light was available to guide the Aberdeen lifeboat to Mr Dailly.
He was taken to the harbour and then transported to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Coastguards said the sea was "very choppy" at the time with a temperature of 7C.
Officials said one of their team was on the scene within 10 minutes of the call.
'Mobile phone'
Duty press officer Fred Caygill said: "This man was very lucky given the temperature of the water and speed of response by coastguard rescue officers.
"They were very quickly able to illuminate the man in the water and to communicate with the lifeboat to co-ordinate the rescue."
Anne Young, Aberdeen Coastguard Watch Manager, said: "Thankfully, this man was wearing a protective suit and a headlamp, which contributed to him being rescued.
"We would like to remind anglers anywhere around our coasts and harbours to make sure that someone knows where they are, and carry a mobile phone.
"In this type of incident minutes can make all the difference between life and death."
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