Body pulled from River Esk at Montrose

Witness says fisherman ‘wading upstream got pulled in’ by current

The body of a fisherman has been pulled from a river in Montrose.

A full-scale emergency response was scrambled after the man got into difficulties while wading in the River Esk near Craigo. Several police cars, two fire appliances, specialist water units and an ambulance were dispatched to Montrose at around 6.30pm.

A witness said: “He was apparently wading upstream and got pulled in.

“The amount of rain earlier in the week had made the currents stronger than normal.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that the body of a man was recovered from the River Esk on Thursday evening. Next of kin have been made aware and there is not thought to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.”

Scottish Fire and Rescue confirmed it was called to assist the operation. Crews lifted the man from the water into a rescue boat. A spokesman said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called at 6.33pm on Thursday May 3 to assist our emergency service partners.

“Operations control mobilised two fire engines and specialist water units to the Kinnaber Water Works, Montrose.”

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 6.39pm on Thursday May 3 to attend an incident in Kinnaber, Montrose. We dispatched one ambulance, a manager and our special operations team to the scene.”