A man has died after falling into the Firth of Clyde off the South Ayrshire coastline.

Police responded to reports of a man in distress in the water by Troon South Beach at around 4.30am on Wednesday.

The UK Coastguard joined Police Scotland, fire and ambulance crews in the rescue operation, recovering the 44-year-old from the water before taking him to hospital. He later died from his injuries.

It is thought that the man was swimming before falling and getting into trouble in choppy water.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said: "At about 4.35am this morning, Police Scotland requested assistance from the UK Coastguard for a person in the water at Troon, Scotland.

"Ayr Coastguard Rescue Team and the Troon RNLI inshore lifeboat were sent to the scene, alongside Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service."

A Police Scotland statement read: "We can confirm that a 44-year-old man has died in Troon.

"Officers received a call at around 4.30am on Wednesday to report of a man who had fallen whilst on the beach.

"Emergency services attended the scene at the beach, near Beach Road in Troon.

"A post-mortem will carried out in due course to establish the exact cause of death, however, at this time there would appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death."