Major search for person in River Tay is called off

Emergency services responded to a call saying a body was seen in river near Tay Road Bridge

A major land, air and water search was launched on Wednesday after a person was reportedly seen in the River Tay.

Police Scotland received a call in the late morning saying a body had been spotted underneath the Tay Road Bridge, prompting HM Coastguard and Broughty Ferry RNLI to leap into action as part of the large-scale investigation.

Both lifeboats were launched at 11.45am and were soon joined by a Coastguard helicopter and foot patrols along the Dundee bank of the river.

The search was called off shortly before 3pm, with the Coastguard reporting they were confident no one was in the water.

For much of the afternoon the focus was centred on the stretch of river between the two bridges, but the helicopter also covered territory further west in the later stages of the search.

An RNLI Broughty Ferry spokesman said: “The alarm was raised just before midday, when a person was spotted in the river near to the road bridge.

“The inshore lifeboat was launched within six minutes and was quickly in the area of the reported sighting.

“The all-weather lifeboat Elizabeth of Glamis was launched a short time later to join the search. Following an extensive search of the area no one was found.

“Both lifeboats were stood down and returned to base around 3pm where they were made ready for any further call outs.”

The Courier understands the report is not related to any other ongoing searches in the region.

The Coastguard sent personnel from both its Carnoustie and St Andrews base.

A spokesperson for the service said: “The search for the person reported missing was stood down following a thorough and comprehensive search that saturated the area.

“Nothing was found and there are no plans to search further at this stage as we are currently happy that no one was in the water.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman added: “Police Scotland is carrying out enquiries after reports of what is understood to be a body in the River Tay.”

The search for the person reported missing was stood down following a thorough and comprehensive search that saturated the area

Pictures: Mhairi Edwards. Rescue services probing along Dundee’s waterfront yesterday morning. Below: the lifeboat was called out as the search continued in the waters around the Tay Bridge.