AN ANGLER WHO lost his life after being swept away while fishing the River Spey is understood to have been visiting the area.
Police said investigations into the death of the 68-year-old, who is yet to be named, are continuing. The accident happened on the Knockando beat of the river at around 5.45pm on Thursday.
Coastguard search and rescue teams from Burghead, Buckie, Lossiemouth and Nairn attended the scene along with fire crews from Aberlour, Elgin and Forres. They searched the river after reports of an angler being in trouble between Carron and the Craigellachie Bridge.
The angler was found in the water near the Dalmunach Distillery and airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but all efforts to revive him at the scene and in hospital were unsuccessful.
It is understood that the boat being used by the angler and a friend got into difficulties on the fast-flowing river – when they threw an anchor overboard it snagged and caused their boat to capsize. One man managed to reach the safety of the river bank but the victim was tragically swept away.
Police said that the incident is being treated as a “tragic accident” adding that a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal in due course.
Scotland’s fastest-flowing river, the Spey has always been a firm favourite with anglers – however, warnings are constantly posted over the dangers posed fishing a river where conditions can change very quickly.