Body found on Largs beach in search for man who fell from Arran ferry
Jim Wither, 82, from Johnstone, went overboard from the MV Caledonian Isles near Arran a week ago. His family have been told, although formal identification has not yet taken place.
The CalMac ferry MV Caledonian Isles. File photo. · Photograph: Dave Souza (CC BY-SA 2.5)
The body of a man has been found on a beach in Largs during the search for a ferry passenger who fell overboard near Arran.
HM Coastguard was alerted at about 8.30pm on Sunday 18 October after a man went overboard from the CalMac ferry MV Caledonian Isles near Arran.
The passenger was later named as 82-year-old Jim Wither, who had been reported missing from Johnstone in Renfrewshire.
Police Scotland said it received a report on Sunday that the body of a man had been found in the Largs beach area. Formal identification has not yet taken place, but Mr Wither's family have been informed.
Major search
Two helicopters, a coastguard plane, RNLI lifeboats and rescue teams from across the area were involved in the original search, which was stood down at 4.55pm the following day.
Not suspicious
Police said the death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal in due course.
The MV Caledonian Isles has served the Ardrossan to Brodick route to Arran for more than 30 years and is one of CalMac's best-known vessels.