A body has been recovered in the search for an 82-year-old pensioner who fell from a Scottish ferry during Storm Boelo. Police Scotland confirmed the discovery off the beach of Largs, a town in the Firth of Clyde, on Sunday, October 25.
Search and Recovery
Jim Withers, from Johnstone in Renfrewshire, was reported missing after boarding a CalMac ferry from Ardrossan in North Ayrshire to the Isle of Arran. Coastguards initially responded to reports that a man had gone overboard from a ferry on October 18.
The initial search involved two helicopters, a coastguard aircraft, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboats, and rescue teams. The search was called off at 4.55am on Monday.
Police Statement
The body has yet to be formally identified, but Mr Withers's family has been informed of the latest development. Officers are not treating the incident as suspicious, and a report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.
A statement from Police Scotland said: 'On Sunday, October 25, we received a report of the body of a man having been found in the Largs beach area.'
'Formal identification is yet to take place, however the family of 82-year-old Jim Wither, who was reported missing from Johnstone, have been informed.'
'The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.'
CalMac Response
A spokesperson for Caledonian MacBrayne said in a previous statement: 'CalMac and the crew from MV Caledonian Isles are assisting Police Scotland and HM Coastguard with an ongoing enquiry regarding a missing person.'
