Man’s body found on Angus beach

Major emergency operation launched after tragic discovery

A major emergency operation was carried out in Carnoustie yesterday after a man’s body washed ashore on the beach.

Emergency services rushed to the mouth of Barry Burn shortly after the tragic discovery was made at about 1pm.

A large area was closed off to the public, near Carnoustie Golf Links and the Rookery restaurant, while the remains were recovered.

Police, ambulance and fire vehicles remained on the scene for nearly three hours. The Broughty Ferry RNLI crew were also on hand.

Detective Inspector Ray Birnie said: “Initial inquiries suggest there are no suspicious circumstances.”

Carnoustie was the scene of a major recovery operation yesterday as a man’s body washed up on the town’s beach.

Emergency services rushed to the mouth of Barry Burn, near the Rookery restaurant and Carnoustie Golf Links, at about 1pm after the tragic discovery was made.

A large area was closed off to the public as efforts to retrieve the remains got under way.

One police officer described it as a “major investigation”.

At least four police cars, two fire engines and two ambulances were at the scene. Broughty Ferry RNLI was also on hand during an operation which lasted for nearly three hours.

The body was taken away in a vehicle belonging to local funeral director Selwood.

The fire engines left shortly after, with police and ambulance crews the last to depart.

Donna Beattie, whose house looks out towards the beach, walked over with her daughter when she heard the sirens.

She said: “There was a crowd of people on the beach alongside the police officers. I couldn’t get close and properly see what was going on because of that.

“It took about five to 10 minutes for the police to get everyone to clear off.

“There was a coastguard out for a while so I wondered if it was a boat that capsized at first, but it doesn’t look like that anymore.

“It’s really sad that something like this would happen.”

A man out walking from Broughty Ferry said: “My first thought when I saw it was that there are a lot of jet skiers and the like here on a Sunday. We often come here from the Ferry for a walk and see a lot of them but the seas are really rough today so I don’t think anybody would actually do that.

“The tides here seem to bring things on to the beach. About 50 years ago a boat called the Fendyke was washed ashore.

“It’s a rough part of the sea and that can bring things in.”

One dog walker who was passing by after the emergency services vacated the area, said: “Carnoustie is normally such a quiet place so it’s shocking to see something like this happening.”

Another said: “It’s tragic. That’s a family’s Christmas ruined.”

Police Scotland later confirmed that the body of a man has been recovered from the Barry Burn in Carnoustie.

Detective Inspector Ray Birnie said: “Inquiries are at early stage and the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

“However, initial inquiries suggest there are no suspicious circumstances .”

I wondered if it was a boat that capsized at first but it doesn’t look like that anymore

Picture: Steve Macdougall. Police officers and vehicles parked near the scene where the body on the beach at Carnoustie was found yesterday.

Pictures: Steve Macdougall. Police, ambulance and fire service personnel attended the scene near the Rookery restaurant and Carnoustie Golk Links at about 1pm yesterday.