The grieving mother of a missing Dundee musician told of her pain as search teams found a body.
Euan Wright (30), from Dundee, has not been seen since Saturday and a major search was mounted by Tayside Police.
Although the body of the man discovered at Fowlsheugh nature reserve, near Stonehaven, has not been formally identified, police have indicated to the family it is likely to be Euan. The reserve is known for its 70m high cliffs, and it is understood Euan may have died in a tragic accident, falling while photographing bird life.
At the family home in Perth, his mother, Mary, said: ”If it is Euan, we’ve lost a very special person. It is likely it is Euan but the police haven’t confirmed it. We’ve been up there all day and are still in shock about the whole thing.”
She said she wanted to digest the heartbreaking news with her whole family before commenting further.
The search team confirmed they had found a body on Tuesday afternoon.
A police spokesman said: ”Officers involved in the search for missing person Euan Wright can confirm that the body of a man has been recovered from the coastline at Fowlsheugh nature reserve, near Stonehaven, at about 2.15pm.
”The man has not been formally identified and inquiries into the full set of circumstances are continuing. As with all sudden deaths, a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
The Tayside force were working with their Grampian colleagues to try to find Euan, who has not been seen since leaving his home in Bellefield Avenue in the west end of Dundee on Saturday afternoon.
Police scoured hillsides and clifftops for the keen hillwalker and birdwatcher, while a river rescue team probed waterways with canoes.
The search intensified when police found his car near the nature reserve.
Sightings of Mr Wright were reported in the Stonehaven area on Monday night, two days after he was last seen.
The coastguard said boats from Stonehaven and Montrose were dispatched at 11.19pm. These were joined by a search helicopter from RAF Kinloss on Tuesday morning.
Euan was a member of Dundee band Grace Emilys and also plays in the Saturday Morning Football League for the DK Raiders.
Manager Mark Gribben said Euan had not shown up for the match on Saturday morning.