The family of Inverness teenager Adam Mitchell say they are “absolutely gutted” after a body was found in Aberdeenshire.
Mr Mitchell went missing from his city home on November 9, sparking a major search involving everything from posters and CCTV trawls to helicopter and lifeboat teams.
But a man’s remains were recieved from the sea at St Fergus in Aberdeenshire after a member of the public reported it.
Police say they have yet to formally identify the body – but confirmed they had informed Mr Mitchell’s family.
Yesterday his father, Mark Mitchell, who lived with his wife Kathleen and their son at an address in Culduthel Mains Crescent, said the family had been “absolutely gutted” by the news.
Mr Mitchell was too upset to talk about his son at length yesterday but added: “I would just like to thank everyone at Burnett Road police station from the moment we reported the matter and stepped in the door. They have done everything possible to bring our boy home.
“We would also like to thank the RNLI. We watched these guys in action from the shoreline and just can not thank them enough, and the coastguard as well, and all of Adam’s friends and family. They did everything possible but, unfortunately, it was just not the outcome we were hoping for.”
Eight days ago, in an emotional plea for help to find Mr Mitchell, his family described him as a “typical teenager” who loved heavy metal music.
The statement said he was “friendly and open with everyone he met” and a “gentle, fun-loving young man who was loyal to his friends,” and that his disappearance as out of character.
It also said he was often seen wearing an off-cut denim jacket decorated with patches of his favourite bands, an item of clothing which his family described as his “pride and joy.”
Yesterday a Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “At around 9pm on Sunday a member of the public alerted emergency services to a man’s body in the sea near St Fergus, Aberdeenshire.
“Officers attended and recovered the man’s body. Formal identification will now take place.
“The family of Adam Mitchell, who has been missing from Inverness since November 9, have been informed and officers are providing support at this time.”
Adam Mitchell was last seen on a CCTV camera walking on Longman Road in the Highland capital in the early hours of Thursday, November 10.
He had earlier been in pubs in the city centre and last spoke to his family at 8.30pm.
Searches for Mr Mitchell involved police officers, dogs and specialist search teams focusing on areas around the Longman Industrial Estate where Adam was seen and the Moray Firth coastline.
The searches on the coast focused on a stretch on the Black Isle side of the firth between Chanonry Point and Avoch.
Police carried out door-to-door inquiries and handed out leaflets and posters with Mr Mitchell’s photograph and information about the case.
Officers also urged business owners to check their units and outbuildings in case Mr Mitchell had taken shelter in the area.
Formal identification of the body is expected to be announced in the coming days.