Family pays tribute to searchers
Malcolm McGraw’s body was found this week
Malcolm McGraw The family of missing man Malcolm McGraw has thanked searchers and police for their “incredible” efforts after his body was found following a four day search.
Seventy-four year old Malcolm was reported missing from his home in Pitlochry last Friday night at around 11pm with the only details of his last known movements being he went out for a walk and did not return.
As concerns grew police conducted a major search for the keen walker over the weekend, including the use of a search helicopter.
The chopper crew made sweeps between Pitlochry and nearby Ballinluig and a specialist search team scoured the River Tummel beside the A9.
Police continued to post appeals for the missing OAP as a large number of volunteers helped form parties to search the Highland Perthshire area.
On Tuesday, August 14 police reported a body was found near the railway line close to the town.
The authorities later confirmed it was the body of Malcolm McGraw.
A police spokesperson stated: “A man found near the railway line in Pitlochry shortly before 8pm on Tuesday evening (August, 14) is that of missing person Malcolm McGraw.
“Mr McGraw’s family have been informed, and have requested privacy at this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them.
“The McGraw family would like to thank the public for the assistance we have been given, through shares of our social media posts and messages, and also from those who assisted in searching for Mr McGraw.”
A statement from the family on a Facebook page dedicated to the search thanked everyone in their efforts to find Malcolm.
They said he would have been “astonished” and “humbled” by the high number of people who cared about his wellbeing.
The statement also goes on to say their “heart breaks” for the women who found him but the family are grateful that he was found and they can now grieve properly as a family.
It ends saying they would be “forever in debt” for the love and support they received from their “incredible community”.