Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘I’m still hoping my son will be found’
Emergency services are continuing to search for Iain Guthrie after he disappeared on December 19.
Extensive searches of the River Tay in Perth and its banks began as soon as authorities were contacted about someone being seen in the water just before 10pm.
Iain had been spotted around an hour earlier, which is understood to be the last sighting of him.
No trace of him has been found since his disappearance.
Louise Guthrie, 46, told the Tele: “It is very distressing. I’m still hoping he will be found safe and well but I just don’t know about the timescales on these things. They’re still out searching but I don’t know what that means.
“I haven’t really been told about their procedures or how they go about a search.
“I think the public have been out helping as well, though, which is really appreciated.
“And I understand the man who saw him in the water has been complaining about the lack of safety measures at the water’s edge. “Apparently, there aren’t many swimming floats. So, if he did fall in accidentally, he might not have been able to get back out.
“The water is very cold at this time of year, so it’s worrying. I just don’t know what his chances would have been in the water.”
She said police officers had also removed Iain’s computer from their home in Perth to check his internet history and for “messages”.
Inspector Kevin Chase of Police Scotland said: “We are increasingly concerned for Iain, who was last seen on December 19.
“A man matching his description was seen entering the River Tay in Perth at about 9.05pm that evening.
“We have carried out local inquiries and searched the River Tay in Perth with the assistance of specialist resources from Scottish Fire and Rescue, Mountain Rescue, the Coastguard and RNLI, including water and air support, but Iain has not been found.
“I would urge any person who has seen Iain since December 19 to please contact Police Scotland on 101.”
THE mother of a vulnerable 20-year-old man believed to have fallen into the River Tay is still hopeful he will be found safe — nearly two weeks after he was last seen.