A man who raised the alarm after spotting a person drowning in the River Tay says the experience will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Fayez Osman was prepared to risk his life to jump into the water after spotting the man in the river last Monday night but says he disappeared under water before he could do anything.
The incident sparked a search lasting several days, but so far no trace has been found of the victim, who police believe may be missing 20-year-old Iain Guthrie.
Mr Osman said he was walking along Queen’s Bridge from the city centre at around 9.15pm when he heard cries for help.
“I could hear shouting and screaming but couldn’t see anyone,” he said. “I decided it was coming from the park because I didn’t imagine anyone would be in the water.
“When I got to the middle of the bridge I realised the shouting was coming from under me – I looked over and saw him. I shouted ‘are you ok?’. The last thing he said to me was ‘no’.
“I jumped into the road to stop a car and got them to call the police. I thought I would see him on the other side.
“I was ready to jump in but when I got to the other side of the bridge I couldn’t see him any more.”
He also criticised the lack of lifebelts on the bridge itself, which he believes could have helped him save the stricken man.
“It’s a long bridge but there’s no lifebelts on it,” he said. “If there had been one I would have been able to throw it to him.
“A human lost his life and I couldn’t save him – my emotions were running high. I am the last person to see him alive.
“I can’t sleep right now – if I close my eyes I see his face in front of me. We all have things that we forget about as time goes by but this is an experience that I am never going to forget.”