A seven-year-old boy and 37-year-old woman have died in hospital after a rescue operation at Aberdeen beach.
The emergency services were called to reports of people in difficulty in the water at about 4.45pm on Saturday.
A major rescue operation was launched and five people were pulled from the water and taken to Aberdeen royal infirmary.
A 37-year-old woman and a seven-year-old boy later died in hospital. A man aged 28, a woman aged 25 and a 13-year-old boy remain in hospital for treatment.
Ch Insp Stewart Mackie said: “This is a very tragic incident which has resulted in a woman and young boy sadly losing their lives. It will undoubtedly bring shock and sadness to the entire city of Aberdeen and farther afield.
“As we work with partners to establish the full circumstances of today’s events, we urge anyone who witnessed the incident or perhaps have information that could assist, to make contact with police via 101. Given the recent weather we’d urge members of the public to take care, especially when near coastal or beach areas.”
