Threipmuir Reservoir: Late night police searches fail to locate missing man

A man who fell overboard from a boat on an Edinburgh reservoir two days ago has not been traced, despite police searches stretching late into the night.

Emergency services were called to Threipmuir Reservoir, in the Pentlands, at 5:35pm on Wednesday, after a man in his thirties fell from a dinghy he was sharing with a group of friends.

An open-water swimmer told BBC Scotland on Thursday that he helped guide the dinghy back to the shore when the group got into difficulty.

"I could see they were waving their jackets so I swam out to them...they were hysterical and saying their friend was in the water,” he explained.

“It was very windy and so it was choppy and they only had paddles...so I guided the boat with them in it back to shore.”

The Police Scotland Dive and Marine Unit’s search for the missing man lasted long into the night on Thursday, but officers have are so far yet to recover a body.

The force confirmed on Friday morning that its search operation is still ongoing.

Emergency services were called to Threipmuir Reservoir, Balerno, at 5:35pm on Wednesday, after a man in his thirties fell from a dinghy he was sharing with a group of friends.

Meanwhile, Pentland Hills Regional Park has closed public access to Threipmuir Reservoir and asked visitors to nearby Harlaw Park not to approach it.

Speaking on Thursday, Chief Inspector Scott Richardson said: “A recovery operation is underway at Threipmuir Reservoir near Balerno today...after a man was seen to get into difficulties in the water on Wednesday, 14 July.

“Emergency services responded to the scene around 5.35pm and searches were carried out.”

He added: These continue today and the man’s family are being kept fully informed.”

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