Police have launched an appeal to identify a man who was swept out to sea in Ayrshire, as well as two potential witnesses, after an overnight search was stood down without finding anyone.
The alarm was raised at around 12.20am on Tuesday, October 27, when emergency services received a report of a person believed to have been swept into the sea by large waves in the North Ayrshire town of Largs.
Search stood down after extensive efforts
Despite the efforts of police, the fire service, HM Coastguard and the RNLI, the search was stood down at around 9am pending new information after no one was found. HM Coastguard said that following an extensive search nobody was located, and searches were abandoned at around 9am pending any new information. Police Scotland said the person remains missing.
HM Coastguard, Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and RNLI lifeboats from Largs and Troon were all involved in the search overnight.
Description of man and witnesses released
Police have now released a description of the man seen in the water. He is described as white, tall, and of slim build. He is believed to be in his 20s, had no facial hair and was dressed all in black including a jacket which was worn with the hood up.
One of the witnesses is described as a white man with ginger hair and a ginger beard. He was wearing a black puffer jacket, blue trousers and white trainers. The second witness is described as a white man 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.
“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.”
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0026 of Tuesday, October 27.
