4x4 RIVER TRAGEDY
MAN KILLED AFTER CAR SINKS IN BURN Horrified locals see vehicle swept away after heavy rain
A YOUNG driver was killed when his 4x4 sank after being swept away in a burn yesterday.
The 23-year-old’s body was recovered from the Burn of Boyne in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, after the vehicle was spotted in the water yesterday at around 4pm.
It’s thought the driver may have been trying to cross the burn at Tillynaught, just off the A98, when he got into difficulty.
Shocked members of the public saw the car being swept away and alerted emergency services, sparking a major search.
Police, fire, ambulance and coastguard teams were involved in the operation, along with a police helicopter and The Macduff lifeboat.
After finding the car a short distance downstream from where it entered the water, police divers searched the vehicle and pulled the driver out.
He was airlifted to hospital just after 6.30pm.
Inspector George Cordiner said last night: “We can sadly confirm a man has died after his vehicle went into water in Tillynaught near Portsoy this afternoon.
“A significant search-and-rescue operation was launched and I would like to thank members of the local community who assisted us and the emergency service personnel who attended.
“Our thoughts at this difficult time are with the family of the man who has died.
“There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.” The tragedy came after the Portsoy area suffered heavy rainfall earlier in the day.
An earlier police statement said: “The 4x4 vehicle was discovered fully submerged in the water at around 5.30pm and the man was found inside.
“He was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by Coastguard helicopter where he was sadly pronounced dead. His next of kin have been informed.”