Family fear worst after body found

POLICE are set to formally ID a body today which is believed to be that of Tayside teenager Ralph Smith.

The grim discovery of a man’s body was made by a member of the public walking in Victoria Park shortly before 9am yesterday.

Relatives of the 18-year-old have been informed of the find.

Today, a close family member said they did not wish to speak about the discovery.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said a formal identification will not take place until today.

The beauty spot was sealed off to traffic as investigations began with Police Scotland scenes of crime officers combing the rocky area where the body was washed up.

Coastguard rescue teams and a helicopter crew, along with Arbroath’s RNLI lifeboats were involved in the search in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.

Since then, relatives of the teenager have also organised searches of the Tayside coastline, with volunteers combing sites in Angus and Fife.

Volunteer pilots from the UK Civil Air Patrol Scotland (UKCaps) have undertaken multiple searches of the coastline.

The disappearance of Ralph Smith, pictured, signalled a day of tragedy for the family after two other relatives died at a family gathering within 24 hours.

Julie McCash and David Sorrie died the day after his disappearance as they attended a family vigil which had been organised for the teenager.

Their bodies were discovered in a Dundee street in the early hours of Sunday February 26.

Robert Stratton, 42, of the city’s Drumlanrig Drive, was subsequently charged with their murder and the attempted murder of a third person.

A Police Scotland statement said: “About 8.40am on Sunday March 26, Police Scotland received a report from the public that a body had been discovered on the beach at Victoria Park, Arbroath.

“Officers are currently making inquiries and it is confirmed that the body of a male has been recovered.”

Police at the scene in Victoria Park where the body was found.