An urgent appeal has been issued to trace a man who was swept out to sea off the Ayrshire coast, along with two individuals believed to have witnessed the incident. Emergency services were called shortly after midnight on Tuesday, October 27, after the man was spotted in the Firth of Clyde near Largs.
Search called off
Despite extensive efforts from police, the fire service, HM Coastguard and the RNLI, the search operation was called off at approximately 9am pending fresh information, having failed to locate anyone. Police Scotland confirmed the individual remains unaccounted for.
The alert was triggered at approximately 12.20am following reports that an individual was thought to have been dragged into the water by powerful waves in the North Ayrshire town. HM Coastguard, Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and RNLI lifeboats from Largs and Troon all participated in overnight search operations.
Descriptions issued
Officers have now issued descriptions of both the man seen in the water and two individuals thought to have witnessed the incident, in a bid to establish their identities. The man spotted in the sea is described as white, tall and of slim build, believed to be in his 20s, clean-shaven, and dressed entirely in black, including a hooded jacket worn with the hood up.
The first witness is described as a white male with ginger hair and a ginger beard, wearing a black puffer jacket, blue trousers and white trainers. The second witness is described as a white male wearing a black jacket, blue trousers, dark-coloured trainers with a light-coloured heel and a dark-coloured Trapper hat.
Appeal for information
Inspector Martin Fraser said: "Extensive enquiries are ongoing to trace the man seen in the water and establish his identity. We are appealing for anyone with information which could assist our investigation, including private CCTV or dashcam footage, to please come forward."
He added: "We would particularly urge the two men who were in the area around midnight to please get in touch as they may have seen the unidentified man or have information that could help us."
HM Coastguard confirmed that after an "extensive search" no one was located and operations were stood down at roughly 9am, awaiting any fresh intelligence. Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0026 of Tuesday, October 27.
