Tributes for dad to be as body found in loch after fishing tragedy
THE family of a man who went missing when his boat capsized on a loch have paid tribute to him after police pulled a body from the water yesterday.
Father-to-be Kieran Cowan was fishing on Loch Awe in Argyll with friends when their vessel overturned on Saturday afternoon.
A search and rescue effort was launched shortly before 5pm when the alarm was raised. Police said formal identification of the body had yet to take place but Mr Cowan’s family have been informed.
The 23-year-old, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, was one of three men in the boat when it capsized near Inishail Island.
The other men, aged 23 and 27, were able to swim to a nearby island. Tributes to Mr Cowan, who was due to become a father in December, poured in yesterday. In a statement his family said: ‘The Cowan family confirm the sad loss of our beloved son and brother Kieran Cowan.
‘Kieran was elated and looking forward to welcoming a baby daughter later this year with his partner Lisa Reid.
‘We are overwhelmed by the love and support from family, friends and the local communities in Prestonpans and Oban.’
An online fundraising campaign set up for Mr Cowan’s family has raised nearly £7,000.
Connor Fairley, a friend of Mr Cowan, set up the Just Giving page and wrote: ‘Kieran Cowan was a delight, someone who made everyone laugh and had a heart of gold.’
Another friend added: ‘Such a tragic thing to happen on what should have been a fun day out with friends.’
Police Scotland said: ‘The body of a man has been recovered from Loch Awe following a search for missing person Kieran Cowan.
‘A joint Police Scotland and Marine Accident Investigation Branch inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident is ongoing.’
Meanwhile, a tourist died while swimming near a small island in the Outer Hebrides yesterday.
Emergency teams were called to the isle of Eriskay on Tuesday when a 37-year-old man was reported to be in the water off Bun a Mhullin.
A police spokesman said: ‘A person was recovered from the sea shortly after 4.35pm on Tuesday.
‘The man was pronounced dead at the scene. There are no suspicious circumstances and a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.’