Moray’s inshore lifeboat and an RAF Lossiemouth based SAR helicopter joined a dramatic search for a man missing at the mouth of the River Nairn late on Saturday evening.
Rescue services were alerted around 11pm when a local man was seen entering the water in the harbour area of Nairn, sparking an extensive search involving the Findhorn-based Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (MIRO).
Police were first alerted to the situation and discovered two men in the water, one trying to assist the other – while one man managed to get out of the water the other was lost from sight.
While the initial search was called off in the early hours police divers were called to the scene earlier today and a body was recovered from the water.
A spokesman for MIRO said: “MIRO rescue was launched at 2300 hours on Saturday 7th June 2014 crewed by Simon, Donald and Peter in a response to a request by Aberdeen Coastguard, following the report that two males were observed within the river in the area of Nairn Harbour where one had managed to get out of the water but the other male was lost from sight.
“MIRO rescue carried out a systematic search of the Harbour area and immediate Moray Firth along with an RAF Search and Rescue Helicopter and Invergordon Lifeboat RNLI.
“Unfortunately this search proved negative and sea search assets were stood down at 0225hours.
“Partner agencies also in attendance were Police Scotland, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Scottish Ambulance Service.”
The body recovered from the water on Sunday afternoon is yet to be formally identified. Police Scotland say that a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.