Helicopters and lifeboats in major search for missing person on River Tay

Two helicopters and lifeboat crews have been involved in a major search for a missing person on the River Tay.

The alarm was raised just before 2am on Monday when the Broughty Ferry lifeboats were launched due to reports of a missing person in the Wormit area.

A coastguard search and rescue helicopter arrived at the scene at around 4.15am and spent two hours circling above the Tay.

Several coastguard teams were spotted on the shore at Wormit while police and firefighters also attended.

Coastguard teams were eventually stood down at around 7.30am without anyone having been found.

However, police are continuing searches on the beach at Wormit and a police helicopter arrived to scour the area just after 10.30am.

Police searching the beach at Wormit. Image: Ellidh Aitken/DC Thomson

A police car parked on nearby Riverside Road. Image: Ellidh Aitken/DC Thomson

One man, whose house overlooks the beach in Wormit, said: “All I saw this morning when I woke up was the lights over the rail bridge.

“I couldn’t tell if I was a helicopter, it was just red lights, but it was clear something was going on.

“It was hovering there for quite a while before moving along the river.”

One passer-by said at around 6am: “There are four coastguard vehicles and one police car parked up at Bay Road, Wormit.

“The coastguard search helicopter is also circling.”

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “I can confirm we were involved in a search operation at Wormit.

“We received a call at around 1.45am.

“We sent both Broughty Ferry lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams from St Andrews, Arbroath and Dundee.

“We stood down at 7.30am.

“At that point, no one had been traced.”

The coastguard helicopter searching the Tay early on Monday. Image: Anthea Davie

The helicopter circled above the river for about two hours. Image: Flightradar24

A spokesperson from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We got a call at 2am and sent one appliance from Tayport to the scene.

“No further information at this stage is available.”

Police Scotland confirmed it was a missing person search but has not provided any further details.

Our reporters are working to bring you the latest updates on this developing story.

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