A campaign has been launched to pay for the funeral of a young man who is believed to have died in the River Tay.
Iain Guthrie was last seen in Perth on December 19 last year, shortly before a man was spotted struggling in the water below Queen’s Bridge.
A body was pulled from the Tay on February 24, just one day after Ian’s 21st birthday. Although it is yet to be identified, friends believe it to be Mr Guthrie.
Johnny Nicoll, who has campaigned tirelessly to find his friend, said the find raised the possibility that their search was now at an end, and has now set up a crowdfunding page to help pay for a funeral.
Mr Nicoll, who was Mr Guthrie’s key worker at the New School, Butterstone and maintained a friendship after he left school, has launched a campaign to raise £1,000 to pay for a funeral.
“The body is yet to be formally identified due to the length of time it has been in the water and at the mercy of the elements and mother nature, but perhaps the tortuous wait for news of Iain’s whereabouts is coming to an end and family and friends can finally lay him to rest,” he said.
“This CrowdGiving page has been set up after consultation, and with the blessing and permission of Iain’s loving mum Louise. Any contribution made will be used to ease the financial burden of a funeral service befitting the inspirational soul that Iain was, and towards a memorial that will be erected in his name.”
He added: “Thank you to everyone who has supported Louise and other family and friends throughout the difficult period of Iain’s disappearance.
“We miss you Iain. A young man taken too soon, a loving son, a good friend to many. Your smile is etched in our minds and hearts forever.
“Till we meet again, dear friend.”
The sighting of a man in the Tay at Perth sparked a major search operation involving Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard, the RNLI and a helicopter.