UPDATE: The search stood down at about 5pm as daylight faded.
A major search operation was launched along the banks of the River Tay in Perth on Tuesday as rescuers looked for a man believed to be in the water.
Police, firefighters and coastguards were sent to Tay Street at 2pm following reports that a man was spotted in the River Tay.
He was described as being white and with blonde hair. He was spotted in the river before going under and not resurfacing.
Officers stressed that they were particularly concerned given that the river was quite high at the time of the report.
The sighting of the man is understood to have happened near Perth’s North Muirton area.
Search and Rescue helicopter above the Tay at Perth City Centre. pic.twitter.com/FjOL415r14
— CllrEricDrysdale SNP (@perthrover) February 4, 2020
A number of emergency services vehicles were parked up alongside the flood defences on Tay Street all the way along to the monument at the North Inch, where Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) water crews took one of their lifeboats.
A police spokesman said: “Emergency services are currently carrying out a search of the River Tay near to North Muirton, Perth, following the report of a sighting of a man in the water around 2pm today, Tuesday, February 4 2020.
“The report indicated that a man, only described as being white and with blonde coloured hair was seen in the River Tay, before going under and not resurfacing.
“The river at this time is quite high. Emergency services including the Coastguard, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland are all involved in the current response and search.”
Inspector Dave Gibson added: “I would ask anyone who may have been in the area of the River Tay this afternoon to call us on the 101 number if they have seen or heard anything which might assist in this search.
“Callers should quote the reference number 1741 February 4 2020.”
A fire and rescue spokesperson said: “Two boat teams from Perth and Dundee’s Kingsway as well as three appliances from Perth and Dunkeld are in attendance.”
Meanwhile, coastguard bosses confirmed that crews from Leven, St Andrews, Kinghorn and South Queensferry were called to the River Tay.
The rescue helicopter from Prestwick Airport was also flown into Perth to assist.
One eyewitness said: “The dinghy was going up and down the river looking for something.
“There were a lot of rescuers in people’s gardens on the Bridgend side of the river. They were looking out onto the Tay from there.
“Just before 4.30pm, some of the emergency services vehicles shot over the bridge and headed out towards Bridgend.”
The SFRS set up an incident command centre to co-ordinate the rescue attempt but as the light disappeared shortly after 5pm emergency services crews said they would have to call off the search without any confirmed sighting of the casualty.
