PICTURES: Drone opens up the sky again for winchman turned photographer
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As a rescue helicopter winchman he won a bravery award.
Now a few years after his retirement from the service, Chris Murray is back in the air - this time capturing stunning images of the Dornoch Firth with a drone.
Chris, who was raised in the area, has been making a name for himself as a photographer.
But he has just bought a drone to give a new perspective on his craft.
And he returned to Dornoch last month and took these breathtaking images.
For Chris's photography has reached new heights!
From diving to the depths of the ocean looking for unexploded mines and bombs, to dangling perilously on a thin wire above a foaming sea, life has never been dull for Chris.
In fact his bravery brought him recognition at the highest level in the form of the Queen's Gallantry Medal for one particularly hair-raising rescue as a winchman aboard a Coastguard helicopter.
The former Royal Navy mine clearance diver still dives to photograph sea life and wrecks.
"I am an adventurer and I would say I was an adrenaline junkie, and always have been," said Chris.
"I do hang out of helicopters, climb to the top of mountains or scramble up cliffs to get the best shot.
"This drone will certainly save some of that hard work and is giving me a different perspective on subjects.
"I've only had it a few weeks but I'm already pleased with the results.
"I just love photography and wildlife and the natural environment.
"I have had some fantastic encounters with wildlife - including swimming with a pod of killer whales off Dounreay in Caithness. That was magical."
Chris thought he had retired early as a helicopter winchman in 2009 after smashing his elbow on a rescue aboard French fishing vessel, Jackabry, off the Butt of Lewis.
But a couple of years ago he was brought out of retirement to form part of a team to help train the next generation of Coastguard search and rescue helicopter crew.
The father-of-one has also worked on oil rigs.
Chris joined up the Navy an ordinary seaman and after his initial training went on to become a clearance diver, one of the most dangerous peace-time occupations.
Chris also carried out more than 750 search and rescue missions with Coastguard helicopters around the UK.
He carried out many daring and perilous rescues, such as in 1995 when he was washed overboard minus his line.
"We had to go out one night in bad weather to rescue a seriously ill crewman off the fishing boat Moraime, which was 165 miles west of Lewis," he said. "The sea conditions were pretty atrocious and during the operation we had to return to Benbecula to refuel. On our return I managed to get on deck and unhooked the wire. But then I was thrown overboard by a huge wave. I narrowly missed the ship's propellers.
"It was 15 minutes before the helicopter found me and I was able to re-hook myself. I went straight back onto the boat and completed the rescue operation. We made it back to Stornoway but it took nine hours in all."
He had also been involved in quite a few animal rescues, including that of a cow which had somehow become marooned on a cliff face.
But the part he played in rescuing the crew of the German fishing boat, Hansa, which sank in 2001 about 200 miles from Benbecula, led to his bravery being officially recognised. Six of the crew died and nine others took to a life raft in heavy seas.
Chris was lowered to the life raft and evacuated all nine survivors to the helicopter, despite suffering a painful shoulder injury. He received the Queen's Gallantry Medal while the other three members of his team were awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air for keeping the helicopter in position in gale force winds and heavy swells.
When the helicopter eventually landed in Benbecula, it had only five minutes' worth of fuel left.
