Lost in the sea: Surfer found alive after 32 hours of missing.

Matthew Bryce a professional sufer who has been described as being "extremely lucky" has been found by a coastguard helicopter after 32 hours in the sea.

Matthew 22, who is from Glasgow had not been seen since he set off to go surfing off the Argyll coast at 09:00 on Sunday.

Belfast Coastguard said he had been in the water since 11:30 on Sunday and was found at 19:30 on Monday.

A spokeswoman said Mr Bryce, who was wearing a wetsuit, was hypothermic and had been taken to hospital in Belfast.His condition was described as stable. Dawn Petrie, from the coastguard, said: "He was extremely lucky.

"Hope was fading of finding the surfer safe and well after such a long period in the water and with nightfall approaching we were gravely concerned but at 7.30pm tonight, the crew on the coastguard rescue helicopter were delighted when they located the man still with his surf board and 13 miles off the coast.

"He was kitted out with all the right clothing including a thick neoprene suit and this must have helped him to survive for so long at sea. He is hypothermic but conscious and has been flown to hospital in Belfast."

She told BBC Radio: "He did the right thing by staying with his surfboard and that certainly aided his survival."

Belfast Coastguard co-ordinated the search for Mr Bryce who left to go surfing from Machrihanish beach near Campbeltown.

BBC