Body found in River Tay confirmed as Perthshire pensioner

Police have confirmed the body of a man found in the River Tay was missing Perthshire pensioner William Rattray.

The grim find was made around 11am on December 21 when his body was pulled from the water near Newburgh.

Mr Rattray, 77, had last been seen on Tuesday, November 24. His car was found abandoned in Bridge of Earn in the early hours of the following morning.

A police helicopter was used in an extensive operation to try to find Mr Rattray and this included Tayside Mountain Rescue helping firefighters during a water search.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland today confirmed the body had been formally identified.

“He has been named as 77-year-old William Rattray from Perthshire,” she said.“Mr Rattray had been reported missing in November.

“There are no suspicious circumstances and as with all sudden deaths a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.”