Boy aged 2 killed in river tragedy

A TWO-year-old boy has died after being swept away in a river.

A major search operation was launched after the toddler was reported missing from a house yesterday morning.

The child was spotted in the River Ericht near Bridge of Cally in Perthshire about an hour later and plucked from the water by firefighters but he could not be saved.

Devastated

A Police Scotland statement said: “Officers immediately launched a full search of the area.

“Around 12:35pm, the child was located in the River Ericht. Tragically, the boy did not survive. His family are being supported by officers.”

Colin Murdoch, chairman of the Strathardle and Glenshee Community Council, said the close-knit community would be devastated by the tragedy.

He said: “This is awful news and it will come as a terrible shock to people around here.”