The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Body of missing academic found
BLAIRGOWRIE: Family’s tribute to Fergus McInnes
The Blairgowrie family of a missing academic have spoken of their “great sadness” after his remains were discovered nearly four years after he disappeared.
Edinburgh University employee Fergus McInnes had not been seen since September 2014. He had flown to Geneva to attend a conference and went missing shortly afterwards.
His sister Lorna said yesterday: “Remains were recently found on a wooded hillside outside Martigny, by someone out walking in the area. The remains were analysed and confirmed as belonging to Fergus. We believe he died on the day he went missing.”
Police say there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
The body of a Perthshire academic has been found almost four years after he went missing on a trip to Switzerland
Fergus McInnes, from Blairgowrie, had not been seen since shortly after he left a plane in Geneva Airport on September 9 2014.
The 51-year-old Edinburgh University academic travelled to Switzerland from Edinburgh and had been due to attend a computer science conference in Martigny.
His death was confirmed yesterday by his family – sister Lorna and parents, Bennet and Elizabeth, who still live in Blairgowrie – on a website set up to aid the search for him.
The post by his sister, Lorna, read: “It’s with great sadness that we, Fergus’s family, are able to confirm his death in Switzerland.
“Remains were recently found on a wooded hillside outside Martigny, by someone out walking in the area.
“The remains were analysed and confirmed as belonging to Fergus. We believe he died on the day he went missing.
“We’ve been told there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.”
She went on to say his body will not be repatriated.
“We’ve decided against holding a traditional funeral for him.
“Our preference is to have his remains cremated in Switzerland, but we intend to have some kind of memorial in this country.
“We’re grateful to the police and related authorities, both here and in Switzerland, for their assistance and support.”
The web page is run by Mr McInnes’ friends with input from his family and friends were urged to post their comments about his passing.
Patricia Critchley, who knew him through an Edinburgh singing group, said: “Fergus was kind and a pleasure to sing with.
“The group brought so much happiness and pleasure to all no matter if you could sing or not!
“I last saw Fergus at the singing session before he left for his trip.
“I also had a fun evening at his birthday celebration learning how to play croquet. He was a very patient teacher and I could see he loved the game.
“I will remember Fergus as a kind and caring person. I hope his soul is now at peace.”
Former classmate Jean Macdonald said: “Fergus was an extraordinary academic but to me he was a classmate, a man of great empathy, sympathy and who had precious time to share.
“Those qualities, and many other besides, he shared with the world and his altruism was obvious to all who had contact with him.”
Inspector Graeme Nisbet of Police Scotland said: “Specially trained officers are providing support to Mr McInnes’ family following this sad news.
“We are continuing to liaise with Swiss police to ensure that any further updates are passed to his loved ones and they have any assistance they require at this difficult time.”