Fears for man missing in water at beauty spot Major search operation mobilised after group get into difficulties at gorge

Rescue vehicles at the scene of the search for a missing man last night. A major search operation was launched last night for a man missing in the water at a Perthshire gorge.

A group of people got into difficulty at the Falls of Bruar and one remained unaccounted for.

Seven people managed to get out of the water to safety, while another man was transported from the scene near Blair Atholl by air ambulance.

It remains unclear what the group was doing at the beauty spot, which is popular for swimming, canyoning and with walkers, but it is believed they were walking.

Specialist water rescue teams from the police, fire service and Tayside Mountain Rescue rushed to the popular beauty spot shortly after the alarm was raised at 5.35pm.

A search and rescue helicopter was also involved in the hunt.

The search was called off as darkness fell but was due to resume early this morning.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed: “Some people got into difficulty in the water.

“One is unaccounted for at this time.”

Efforts are presently ongoing to locate one further casualty

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it was alerted at 5.40pm to reports of people in the water at the falls, which can be reached by a path from behind the House of Bruar.

A spokesperson said: “Two specialist water rescue crews, a line rescue team and two appliances were immediately mobilised to the scene.

“A total of seven people had made their way to safety, while one male casualty had been transferred to the care of ambulance crew prior to the arrival of firefighters.”

The gorge can be reached by a path behind House of Bruar and is popular with visitors.

Police kept members of the public away from the area while the incident was ongoing.