Tragic death as man’s car washed into river torrent

A man has been killed after his car skidded from a road and was washed away in a fast flowing river during flooding which swept the north-east.

The 23-year-old had been crossing a bridge on the outskirts of Portsoy in Aberdeenshire yesterday afternoon when his 4x4 plunged into the raging torrent.

The car disappeared from view beneath the murky water,and a largescale search was launched along the River Soy.

The car, with the man’s body inside, was recovered from the water near Tillynaught at 5.30pm.

Inspector George Cordiner last night said the man had been pronounced dead after being airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. He added: “We can sadly confirm that a man has died after his vehicle went into water in Tillynaught, near Portsoy.

“A significant search and rescue operation was launched in order to trace the man and I would like to thank members of the local community who assisted the emergency service personnel who attended.

“Our thoughts at this difficult time are with the family of the man who has died.

“There does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.”

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 4pm, when the alarm was raised.

The fire service sent 27 firefighters from Elgin, Macduff, Cullen and Inverness as well as two boats.

A lifeboat was launched from Macduff in case the car was washed to sea.

Coastguard teams surveyed the riverbank on foot, while a helicopter hovered above.

Rescue workers at the scene of the fatal accident