A teenage boy has died in a paddleboard tragedy at a popular Scots beauty spot.
The 15-year-old was seen falling into the water at Loch Ore on Saturday evening, sparking a major search and rescue operation.
The teenager had been paddleboarding on the loch, in Fife, moments earlier.
Four water rescue teams and a helicopter were called to the scene at Lochore Meadows Country Park near Lochgelly, along with police officers and firefighters.
A coastguard helicopter and rescue teams were also called in from St Andrews, Queensferry, and Leven to aid the search.
The boy’s family, who are believed to live in nearby Thornton, remained at the loch on Saturday night in the hope of being safely reunited with the boy.
Extensive searches continued into yesterday and police banned the use of aircraft and drones above the area. Dive units were also deployed at around midday.
Writing on Facebook, one witness, Linda Gunn, said: ‘Just wish I could have helped but could not do anything to help the poor boy. I took to my heels trying to get help.’
The 15-year-old was seen falling into the water at Loch Ore on Saturday evening, sparking a major search and rescue operation (File Image)
Extensive searches continued into yesterday and police banned the use of aircraft and drones above the area. Dive units were also deployed at around midday (File Image)
Another wrote: ‘While everybody’s spent the night gossiping about what was going on the volunteers setting up the gala were on hand assisting the boy’s family and the police had given them a private area and hot drinks.’
Kimberley Milligan wrote: ‘That family will be sitting broken hearing the fun of a gala that in respect should be cancelled – a gala their son probably had a ticket for but instead they’re sat in what will be their worst nightmare.’
Others suggested that lifeguards be stationed around the popular beauty spot during peak summer weekends to prevent similar tragedies happening.
The public were asked to avoid the area and a gala day scheduled to take place at the park was moved to a new location.
But this afternoon, police said that they had recovered the body of a male youth.
A police spokesman said: ‘Formal identification has yet to take place however the family of a 15-year-old paddle boarder reported missing on Saturday, 28 June, have been informed.
Four water rescue teams and a helicopter were called to the scene along with police officers and firefighters – a coastguard helicopter and rescue teams were also called in
‘There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.’
Loch Ore is a popular beauty spot with Fife residents, with the surrounding park drawing in more than a million visitors every year.
The lake hosts the Scottish Open Water Championships and is also used as a training site for the University of St Andrews Boat Club.
The tragic incident comes five years after a 20-year-old man died after suffering cold-water shock at the same spot.
Keivan Ulhaq was rescued from Loch Ore when he went into sudden cardiac arrest, but later died in hospital.
Following Ulhaq’s death, SFRS installed lifesaving throwline equipment and water-safety signs at the loch.
Lochore Meadows is a 1,200 acre country park near the towns of Kelty, Lochgelly, Crosshill and Lochore.
It is a popular beauty spot for cyclists, anglers, golfers and for watersports.
The park also has pitches for motorhomes and caravans.
