A body has been recovered three weeks into the search for a missing father feared drowned in a Christmas fishing tragedy that claimed the life of his friend.

Greig Stoddart, 44, disappeared following an overnight fishing trip to Gartmorn Dam in Clackmannanshire with Ian McBurney, 55, on 23 December last year.

The alarm was raised on Christmas Eve following concern for the pair, with the body of Mr McBurney recovered on Boxing Day.

The search continued for Mr Stoddart, with Police Scotland coming under fire over its handling of the case.

Family members criticised the force, claiming searches were not carried out every day.

A video shared online by a relative also appeared to show two officers walking around the dam but no search activity on the water.

At the time, Mr Stoddart’s father, Jock Stoddart, told Sky News: “We just want them to find Greig. We want him home.”

Humza Yousaf’s brother-in-law charged with drug offences

Police investigate ‘unexplained’ death of baby boy in St Andrews

Caroline Glachan: Pair jailed over schoolgirl’s murder in 1996 after police exposed their alibis as lies

On Monday, a Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed a body was recovered from Gartmorn Dam at around 5pm on Sunday.

The spokesperson added: “He has been identified as a 44-year-old man reported missing in the area on Sunday 24 December 2023.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Read more from Sky News:
Pair jailed over schoolgirl’s murder in 1996
Katie Hopkins criticised for mocking Kate Garraway

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

It is understood Mr Stoddart and Mr McBurney used a small boat to sail across to an island on the reservoir and may have got into difficulty on their way back to the mainland.

In response to the criticism, Police Scotland said searches had been carried out whenever possible – with underwater searches postponed for a time due to weather conditions and safety reasons.

The force added that where it was not possible for the dive and marine unit to use a boat, searches still commenced using ropes along the shoreline.

Related posts:

‘We all miss you’, Eugenie says in touching Instagram tribute to Prince Philip COVID-19: When green, amber and red list decisions don’t match the data Green light for New Year’s Eve parties – as rise in hospitalisations looms over celebrations ‘I became the devil’: Trauma of woman wrongly suspected of murdering an entire family ‘It was most likely to fail’: Ex-head of COVID jabs rollout reveals fears about securing vaccine England fans fear ‘ITV curse’ ahead of crucial World Cup clash with Senegal Who is Lady Susan Hussey and what is a lady in waiting? ‘They should have been looking’: Timeline of Cardiff crash so far as police admit day’s delay Nick Kyrgios withdraws from Wimbledon with wrist injury Orkney Islands to consider break from UK Celtic fans defy club and display thousands of Palestinian flags at match Man arrested after number of connected incidents in Clapham – including stabbing of Uber driver