Latest news with #LochOre
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Heartbroken family pay tribute to 'much loved, caring' teenager killed in paddleboard tragedy
Tributes have been paid to an 'adventurous' and 'caring' teenage boy who died following a paddleboarding tragedy at a Scots beauty spot. Alexander McNab was reported missing after falling in the water at Loch Ore, Fife on Saturday, sparking a major search operation. The 15-year-old's body was recovered from the water the following afternoon. He had been paddleboarding on the loch just moments before the tragedy happened. In an emotional tribute released through Police Scotland yesterday, his family said the 'teenager would be 'forever missed' by everyone who knew him. They said: 'Alexander was much loved, caring, adventurous, bold, hard-working, ambitious and always looking out and caring for others. 'He is a much-loved son, brother, grandson, cousin, friend and boyfriend and a big part of his local community. 'Alexander will be forever missed by those that knew him and loved him.' The teenager, who is understood to have lived in the nearby village of Thornton, was reported missing after he was seen falling in the water at Lochore Meadows Country Park, near Lochgelly, on Saturday. A major search involving police, fire and coastguard teams was launched just before 5.30pm. A helicopter and divers were also deployed in the operation and police banned the use of aircraft and drones above the area. But Police Scotland confirmed the body of a male youth was recovered from the loch around 1.20pm on Sunday and that the boy's family, who had remained at the loch on Saturday night in the hope of being reunited with their child, had been informed. Officers said yesterday there were no 'suspicious circumstances' and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Detective Sergeant Duncan Thompson said: 'Our thoughts are very much with Alexander's family at this very distressing time and we have specialist officers supporting them.' Tributes also poured in online for the youngster, with one person writing: 'Fly high Alex, such a good soul and will always be remembered as the funny, amazing guy that he was. Forever 15.' Another said: 'Such a cheeky chappy growing up, you grew into such a lovely hard working, thoughtful young man. Sleep tight. Taken far too soon.' One mourner described him as a 'lovely young man' who they remembered from his days at Thornton Primary School, while another said: 'We will all miss you and that gorgeous cheeky smile.' Others said Alexander was 'such a kind, funny boy who always spoke' and had a 'heart of gold' and the 'best cheeky smile'. Loch Ore is a popular beauty spot that hosts the annual Scottish Open Water Championships for swimmers. It is also used as a training facility for the University of St Andrews Boat Club, with the surrounding 1,200-acre country park attracting more than a million visitors every year. Alexander's death comes five years after 20-year-old Keivan Ulhaq lost his life after suffering cold-water shock at the same spot five years ago. He was rescued from the loch but went into sudden cardiac arrest and later died in hospital. Following the 2020 tragedy, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service installed life-saving throw-line equipment and water safety signs at the loch.
Telegraph
30-06-2025
- Telegraph
Family pays tribute to ‘adventurous' boy, 15, after paddle boarding death
The family of a teenager who died after going missing in a loch have paid tribute to a 'much-loved and adventurous' boy. A search was launched after Alexander McNab, 15, disappeared while paddle boarding at Loch Ore, near Lochgelly, Fife, at about 5.25pm on Saturday. His body was recovered from the water at 1.20pm on Sunday. His family paid tribute, saying: 'Alexander was much-loved, caring, adventurous, bold, hard-working, ambitious and always looking out and caring for others. He was a much-loved son, brother, grandson, cousin, friend and boyfriend, and a big part of his local community. 'Alexander will be forever missed by those that knew him and loved him. The family would appreciate privacy at this emotional time.' A Coastguard helicopter and rescue teams from St Andrews, Queensferry and Leven were involved in the search at the weekend. Police said there were not believed to be any suspicious circumstances, and a report would be submitted to the procurator fiscal. Det Sgt Duncan Thompson said: 'Our thoughts are very much with Alexander's family at this very distressing time, and we have specialist officers supporting them.' Meanwhile, a body has been found in the search for the former owner of the Lodge on Loch Lomond hotel. Alan Colquhoun, 83, who founded the four-star hotel in Luss in 1992, is understood to have fallen from a boat into Loch Lomond on Thursday. The 48-room hotel is run by Mr Colquhoun's son Niall and daughter-in-law Ann. Police Scotland said the body, which has still to be formally identified, was recovered near the island of Inchlonaig on Sunday afternoon. A spokesman said: 'There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances, and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.'
Times
29-06-2025
- Times
Body recovered from loch where teenage paddleboarder went missing
Police searching for a missing 15-year-old paddleboarder in Fife have found a body in the water. A teenage boy had been reported missing after going out on Loch Ore on Saturday afternoon with a friend. Police Scotland said that the body of a male youth was brought from the water at about 1.20pm on Sunday. Formal identification has yet to take place, but the family has been informed. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. Calls of concern about a male who had been paddleboarding were first made to the emergency services at about 5.25pm on Saturday evening. A large emergency response, including the coastguard, was in attendance at the park overnight and locals were asked to avoid the area while a search was carried out. Loch Ore is a freshwater loch covering 260 acres in Fife and is used mainly for leisure activities, including by the University of St Andrews Boat Club. Airspace over the beauty spot at Crosshill was closed to allow a police helicopter to assist with the search. Initially, the airspace above the loch and wider parkland was closed until Monday at 9am. A gala day due to take place at the park, known locally as The Meedies, was moved to a new location. Five years ago, at the same spot, a 20-year-old man died after going open-water swimming. Keivan Ulhaq, from Cowdenbeath, was swimming with friends when he went into sudden cardiac arrest after suffering cold-water shock. He was rescued from the water but later died in hospital. Ulhaq's mother, Sheena Ulhaq, was later thanked by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for speaking publicly about the dangers of open water. In the aftermath of his death, SFRS installed new water-safety signs and lifesaving throwline equipment at the scenic spot.
Telegraph
29-06-2025
- Telegraph
Body found in search for missing 15-year-old paddle boarder
The body of a male youth has been recovered from a loch where extensive searches were taking place for a missing 15-year-old paddle boarder. Emergency services were called on Saturday afternoon after concerns were raised for a male who had been in the about 5.25pm at Loch Ore in Lochore Meadows Country Park in Fife, Scotland. Temperatures in the area had hit 20C (68F). Firefighters and the coastguard launched a search with a no-fly zone put in place from Sunday until Monday morning. Police Scotland said that the body of a male youth was recovered from the loch at about 1.20pm on Sunday. '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,' the force said. 'There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.'
The Sun
29-06-2025
- The Sun
Hunt for missing paddleboarder, 15, ends in tragedy as body pulled from Scots loch
A BODY has been found in the search for a missing 15-year-old paddleboarder. Police confirmed a 'male youth' had been found in the water after a rescue team hunt at Lochore Meadows Country Park in Fife. 2 2 Force chiefs closed the airspace barring planes, helicopters and drones from flying over the beauty spot after a 'report of concern' for a person on 260-acre Loch Ore. A police spokesman said: 'The body of a male youth was recovered from the water. 'Formal identification has yet to take place however the family of a 15-year-old paddleboarder reported missing have been informed. 'There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.' The alarm was raised over concerns for the teen who had been on the water around 5.25pm yesterday as temperatures in the area hit 20°C. Coastguard teams from three stations and a chopper took part in the operation, supported by cops and firefighters. Police told how 'extensive searches' had been mounted in a bid to find him. Aircraft had been blocked from flying overhead until 9pm tomorrow, while visitors were urged to stay away and a planned gala was shifted to a nearby playpark. Locals paid tribute to the lad online after it was revealed a body had been found. One said: 'Absolutely devastating news. School principal pays touching tribute to teen who died in Meath swimming tragedy 'I was really praying he would be found safe and well, thinking of his family.' Another added: 'Som so sad to hear this, it is just heartbreaking. 'Sending love to the family, I cannot begin to imagine their pain.' And a third said: 'Another one taken too soon.' More than a million visitors use the park each year, with the loch popular for yachting and used as a training site for the University of St Andrews Boat Club. It is also the home of the Scottish Open Water Championships. Paddleboarding has boomed in popularity, with around 100,000 adults taking to the water annually. They stand or kneel on specially made boards or inflatables and use an oar to move and steer using.
