Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Mum ‘loses hope’ after body found
THE devastated mum of missing Dundee man Anthony Kelbie admitted today that she had lost all hope of her son being found alive after the discovery of a man’s body.
Mr Kelbie, 48, had not been since August 19 despite a large-scale police search involving specialist officers from the dive and marine unit and a police helicopter.
After a search was carried out in the River South Esk, police revealed yesterday that a body was found near Brechin.
A spokeswoman for the force said Mr Kelbie’s next of kin have been informed but no formal identification has taken place.
Speaking from her home i n the Middleton Park area of Brechin, Carole Kelbie, 69, today said the news of a body being found was the “worst possible”.
Mrs Kelbie told the Tele: “I now fear the worst.
“I have now pretty much lost all hope that my son will be found alive.
“I have a gut feeling that this is Anthony.
“I have said all along that I didn’t believe that he would be found alive.
“The police have promised us they will let us know as soon as they have a formal identification of the body that has been discovered.
“In the meantime, we are just sitting tight and waiting to hear.”
Mrs Kelbie said that family members had gathered with her at her home to wait to hear from the police.
She added: “All we can do now is wait to see but it’s not looking good.”
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “The body of a man was discovered by police officers near to Brechin yesterday afternoon as part of the searches for missing person Anthony Kelbie.
“His next of kin have been made aware of the development, however, there has been no identification of the body at this stage.
“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
The officer leading the investigation, Inspector Alice Coventry previously thanked members of the public for their help in the search
Anthony, who lives in the Maryfield area of Dundee, was reported missing from his mother’s home after going to buy a lighter.
Earlier that day he had been admitted to Ninewells Hospital after suffering a bang to the head as well as cuts and grazes sustained in a fall during a seizure. When he was released from hospital that afternoon he travelled by bus to Brechin.
At 8pm, he left his mother’s house to go the local shop and hasn’t been seen since.
Only days after his disappearance Mrs Kelbie said she feared the worst — that her son would not be found alive.