Bodies identified as storm couple
A MISSING couple whose car was washed up on a beach following a violent storm were confirmed dead yesterday after the discovery of their bodies 13 miles away.
Police and coastguard rescue teams launched a major search when Susan and James Kenneavy’s Ford Kuga was found empty on Drummore beach, Wigtownshire, on Thursday. Heavy rain had led to flooding on the Drummore coastal road.
Police Scotland said the body of Mrs Keanneavy, 65, was found at the edge of the water in Port William, Newton Stewart, around 8.15am on Saturday. The body of her 79-year-old husband was found nearby around half an hour later. Officers yesterday confirmed identification of the popular couple, from Drummore, had taken place.
A force spokesman said a report had been sent to the procurator fiscal.
The couple’s car had been discovered, still locked and filled with silt, at the bottom of an embankment by a workman who was clearing the road of debris following Storm Diana, which whipped up 30ft waves off the North Channel. Search teams worked into the night on Thursday in an effort to find the couple. Air, sea and land searches took place on Friday.
The efforts involved local lifeboats, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team and the Coastguard and Rescue 936 search helicopter.
The incident happened in the most southwesterly corner of the country, where the A716 from Stranraer runs close to Luce Bay.
The area is notorious for flooding but drivers have been known to ignore ‘road closed’ signs and move cones designed to keep them away at times of bad weather.