Coin Press - Body recovered after ferry passenger reported overboard

A body was found during the search for an elderly passenger who was reported to have fallen from a ferry, with authorities working to confirm the circumstances.

Jim Withers, 82, was reported to have entered the water after boarding a Calmac Ferry from Androssan in North Ayrshire to the Isle of Arran.

Police have confirmed they have recovered a body off the beach of Largs, a town in the Firth of Clyde.

Coastguards had initially responded to reports a man had gone overboard from a ferry on October 18.

Two helicopters, a coastguard aircraft, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboats and rescue teams were involved in the initial search, which was called off at 4.55am on Monday.

The body has yet to be formally identified, but Mr Wither’s family has been informed of the latest development.

The pensioner had been reported missing from his home in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.

Officers are not treating the incident as suspicious and a report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.

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A statement from Police Scotland said: ‘On Sunday, October 25, we received a report of the body of a man having been found in the Largs beach area.

‘Formal identification is yet to take place, however the family of 82-year-old Jim Wither, who was reported missing from Johnstone, have been informed.

‘The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course.’

A spokesperson for Caledonian MacBrayne said in a previous statement: ‘CalMac and the crew from MV Caledonian Isles are assisting Police Scotland and HM Coastguard with an ongoing enquiry regarding a missing person.’

P.Schmidt--CPN