The mother of a missing teenager has described her heartbreak at having to watch the search from nearly 100 miles away.
Medical student David MacLeod was last seen at about 1pm on Friday in Stafford Street, Aberdeen.
The 18-year-old left his flat to go for a walk but did not return, which was “out of character”, and his worried friends called the police.
A massive search has been under way since, involving police dogs, divers and a police helicopter.
His desperate friends in Aberdeen and the Highlands, where he grew up, have also been spreading the word online and putting posters up across city.
Last night, his mother Alex MacLeod, who lives in Ardersier, praised the efforts of all those involved in the search – and admitted it has been hard to watch from 100 miles away.
She said: “The kids from his former school, Culloden Academy, and his friends in Aberdeen have pulled out all the stops and shared what they can online.
“They were out looking even before the police were and have put up posters and handed out flyers.
“It’s been hard being so far away but they’ve been so good at keeping me updated.
“The support has made me so humbled and shows how loved David is.”
Ms MacLeod has also made a chalk poster for her son with the words “Mum loves you so much.”
However, although she admitted she is often “despondent and crying”, the 53-year-old has been trying to put on a brave face for Mr Macleod’s brother Peter.
She added: “David is such a caring person and so, so loved in the community.
“I really miss him and just want him to come home. Coronavirus made so many things harder and I don’t think this would have happened otherwise.”
She added local churches were “praying for a miracle” and thanked the church elders who had been extremely supportive in the past few days.
We have today been continuing enquiries for missing person David MacLeod, 18, search activity has taken place around the River Don between the Diamond Bridge and Seaton Park and will continue into the evening. READ MORE https://t.co/KixAb22kOJ pic.twitter.com/GWjf2O5yhE
— North East Police (@NorthEPolice) June 21, 2020
Mr MacLeod, 18, moved to Aberdeen to study medicine and has a close group of friends and a job at Tesco.
Flatmates Alys Dean and Zahra Patterson described him as “selfless and caring”, adding: “We want him to come home and we miss him.”
Miss Dean added: “I don’t think he realises how much we love him.”
Mr MacLeod is described as being around 6ft and of a thin build with a pale complexion with brown eyes and brown hair. He has an Inverness accent. He has a small scar on his cheek and is normally clean shaven.
CCTV images show him wearing a waterproof jacket with a horizontal red stripe at the bottom which merges to grey and then black, black jeans and black trainers
He was also carrying a black rucksack when last seen.
Officers have focused their activity in the Seaton Park, Balgownie, Grandholm, Tillydrone and Old Aberdeen areas and asked people to check sheds, outbuildings or gardens.
Anyone with information can contact police by calling 101.