Gratitude after teenager traced

The relieved family of a teenager who went missing from Stirling University have thanked the police and members of the public after he was traced safe and well.

Jack Martin (18), from Callander, went missing from the Macrobert Arts Centre at around 8.45pm on Friday.

Jack had been on a family visit to the arts centre to see the pantomime ‘Sleepin’ Cutie’. He went to the bathroom at the interval shortly before 8.45pm before vanishing. Concerns grew for his safety, with police saying he has issues with his speech and “may present much younger than his physical age”.

A full-scale search mission was launched by Police Scotland. Ochils Mountain Rescue Team were drafted in to conduct searches in the surrounding areas. Security staff from the university also conducted their own searches of building across the campus.

Trossachs Search and Rescue Team were placed on stand–by and were ready to be deployed if needed.

He was traced at around 5pm on Saturday, near to the Springkerse Roundabout in Stirling.

His relieved mother, Julie Amanda Potter, took to social media to express her thanks. She said: “I would like to say an absolute huge thank you to everyone involved in looking for Jack.

“We have him home now and he has been given the medical all clear by the hospital. We don’t know exactly what happened at this moment but he’s home safe and well now.

“With an extra big thank you to Forth Valley Police Division and the 29,000 social media shares that was done in his search.

“I appreciate every single one of you.”