A major search operation for a missing teenager in the River Nairn ended this afternoon with the recovery of a body.
The 19-year-old – named locally as Alexander Fraser – is understood to have got into difficulty while swimming close to the harbour mouth late on Saturday night.
A second man, believed to be his cousin, entered the water to save the teenager, but was unable to drag him out.
Police were alerted at 11pm and the would-be rescuer managed to scramble to safety.
However Mr Fraser vanished from sight soon after.
His body was not recovered until 1.30pm following a huge air, sea and land search.
It is thought he may have been among about 60 people who attended a party on Nairn beach on Saturday night.
It is understood a DJ had been scheduled to play at the electronic dance music event, but the gathering finished early because of heavy rain.
A search and rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth was called out to search the area, along with Invergordon lifeboat and the Moray inshore lifeboat from Findhorn.
The incident happened less than 100 yards from the busy Parkdean holiday park.
Holidaymakers said they were woken at around 1am by the sound of the helicopter and were shocked to hear about the tragedy.
The operation was called off at around 2am and resumed at 8am yesterday.
The helicopter and Moray inshore lifeboat spent several hours scouring the coastline around the harbour mouth.
The pier area was cordoned off to vehicles and pedestrians while officers coordinated the search. A lifebelt, with a blue rope attached, could be seen lying on the pier wall, close to where the man is understood to have disappeared.
Good weather meant the area was busy with tourists and locals all day. A sailing regatta was also taking place along the coast to the west of the harbour.
Police divers from Aberdeen arrived at noon to assist the search.
The body of a young man was found in the river at low tide at around 1.20pm, just a few feet from steps leading up the pier wall.
He was retrieved from the water by a diver shortly after.
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that a body has been recovered in the River Nairn during the search for a missing male.
“The body was discovered by police divers this afternoon. Formal identification will take place in due course.”
He added that a report would be sent to the procurator fiscal.
The spot is popular in the summer with youngsters jumping off the pier wall into the water.
One local woman, who did not wish to be named, said her young son saw people in the water at the scene.
She added: “He said something had happened.
“I used to swim there but I was a strong swimmer. You don’t know how the currents are going to take you.”
A spokesman for Invergordon lifeboat said its crew started a search of the coast within three miles of the harbour.
A spokesman for Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation said its team carried out a search of the harbour area and around the immediate coastline.