Boy, 16, found dead after being swept away

A 16-year-old boy has been found dead after being swept out to sea off the Scottish coast.

Reece Sweeney was in the water at Banff Bay in Aberdeenshire with two friends when he vanished in the early hours of Saturday morning. It is believed the teenager, who was from the area, was swept away by a wave.

A search involving the coastguard, RNLI lifeboats, a rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth and a Grampian Police underwater search team found no trace of the missing teenager that day, but his body was eventually recovered by police officers yesterday morning.

The ambulance service received a call at about 2.30am on Saturday, saying that somebody was in the water and in need of help. Grampian Police is investigating the circumstances leading up to the three people being in the water.

A friend described how the group were in shallow water when a wave struck and they were knocked off their feet.

Stephanie McKendrick, 17, told the Scottish Sun on Sunday: "The current was really strong. I'm a good swimmer but Reece isn't.

"We both went under and I was trying to hold on to his hand – but when I came up he was not there. I shouted to him but there was no reply."

Grampian Police, in a statement, thanked the local public and the various maritime partner agencies involved in the search for Reece, "for their invaluable assistance during this tragic incident".

PA