The mother of a man found dead in the River Tay more than two months after going missing has said she feels “more peaceful” now that he has been formally identified.
Iain Guthrie was last seen in Perth city centre shortly before a man was spotted in the water below Queens Bridge on December 19.
His mother’s worst fears were realised on Tuesday when police confirmed the identity of a body found near Newburgh on February 24 – the day after what would have been Iain’s 21st birthday.
Louise said identification had taken several weeks as police were unable to use dental records and had to do DNA tests.
She is now focusing on arranging a funeral for Iain so he can be laid to rest. Family friend Johnny Nicoll, who was Iain’s key worker at New School, Butterstone, has raised almost £2,000 to help pay for the costs.
Louise said: “I feel more peaceful now he has been found – sometimes people go into the water and they are never found.
“It’s hard that he’s dead but at least we’ve got a chance to lay him to rest and he’s no longer in the water. We’ve got a chance to say a proper goodbye.
“I’ve had a lot of messages of support and that has brought me comfort.”
Mr Nicoll, who maintained a friendship with Iain after he left school, paid tribute.
He said: “Iain was a young man who thrived at The New School over the six years he attended there. I had the privilege of working with him very closely as his key worker and helped him to set achievable targets both academically and socially, as he had very little social interaction outwith school.
“Iain attended a school activity week trip to Holland and Germany in June 2012 and this was the first time he had ever been out of Scotland. From that point on he had developed the ‘travel bug’ and had huge desires to visit as many new places as he could.
“So for the next few years he and his mum Louise visited London, Spain (several times), Portugal, Greece and the Czech Republic, giving him an incredible zest for life. He loved nothing more than to share his experiences with everyone who would listen.
“Iain left the New School at Butterstone in June 2014 and started studying at Perth College shortly after. He kept close ties with the school and would work in the kitchen with his close friend, school chef Colin O’Brien one day a fortnight on a voluntary basis. He would often go on hill walks with Colin at weekends as he loved the great outdoors
“Iain brought a smile to the face of everyone who knew him. The New School was a huge part of Iain’s life, as it gave him the platform and confidence to move on into the adult world and likewise Iain was an integral part of the school community and contributed much to its success as a place of learning and social development.
“Iain will be remembered by everyone who knew him as he has enriched the lives of so many, at school and in the community around Bridgend, Perth.”
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “We can confirm that following the recovery of a man’s body from the River Tay at Newburgh, Fife on February 24, he has now been formally identified.
“He has been named as missing 21-year-old Iain Guthrie from Perth.
“There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”Fiscal.”