Hopes are fading for a swimmer who went missing in a loch in the Highlands.
Rescuers have called off their search for an angler who went swimming in a loch in the Highlands.
A major search has resumed for the 20-year-old man who got into difficulties swimming in Loch Assynt, east of Lochinver, on Saturday night.
A major search was launched after the 20-year-old man got into difficulties swimming across Loch Assynt, east of Lochinver, on Saturday night.
The man was a member of an angling party who were camping on the shore of the loch.
The man was a member of an angling party camping on the shore of the loch. The alarm was raised at about 2230 BST when friends lost him from view.
The alarm was raised at about 2230 BST when friends lost him from view. A coastguard helicopter was scrambled as well as two coastguard rescue teams.
The search was called off on Saturday but had resumed at 0800 BST.
Water temperatures
Stornoway Coastguard said the operation was called off at around midday after rescuers found no trace of the swimmer.
Police also went to the scene while the angling party also went out in a small boat to help with the search. They found no trace of the man and the search was suspended.
It resumed at 0800 BST.
Rescuers said that the man's chances of survival may be slim.
Coastguard Watch Officer Jo Carrington said: "Swimming in fresh water is often more dangerous than swimming in the sea, as it can be much colder, and with no safety equipment it takes more energy to stay afloat.
"At any time of year swimming at night can be hazardous, as even in the summer months water temperatures are low enough for hypothermia to set in in as quickly as half an hour.
"Co-operation between ourselves and the land search units under command of the police is crucial in incidents such as this one, we are working closely together to find this gentleman.
