A Tayside woman has described the awful moment that she realised a body was face down in the water on an Angus beach.
The lady, who lives in Rossie near Montrose, was walking her mother’s dog at Monifieth beach on Sunday when she spotted a man’s black jacket in the water.
Then, as the tide went out, she saw the elderly man’s face.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I was walking along the beach with my mum’s dog and I’d passed several people walking up and down.
“I saw something huge in the water with a black jacket which was puffed out. As the water went out again I saw his head.
“I thought the man might have passed out and gone into the water so I dropped the dog’s lead and ran to try to help him.
“I dragged him out and kept his head up.
“His eyes were closed. It actually looked like he was asleep other than the fact his lips were very blue. He looked quite peaceful.”
After phoning the police, the woman signalled over to a couple who were standing on a path nearby. Together they dragged the body further on to the shore.
“I was numb at the time but as the days have gone on I have been rather upset.”
The find followed a search and rescue mission involving police and coastguard units on the Tay the previous day after a man was seen on the Tay Road Bridge.