Friends name boy, 14, feared drowned in river fall

A TEENAGE boy who is missing after falling into a swollen river was named yesterday.

The 14-year-old, who was fishing with a friend when he fell into the water, was named locally as Dean McGregor.

The teenager fell into the Annick Water near Stewarton, Ayrshire in the Laneshaw Woods, close to a dilapidated bridge branded a danger by locals and known as the broken bridge.

Friends said that the missing boy had just started his third year at Stewarton Academy in his home village last week.

Two coastguard teams, a Royal Navy helicopter from HMS Gannet at Prestwick, as well as police and fire crews, joined in the search after the alarm was raised on Saturday evening.

The Strathclyde Police diving team was also called out to assist in the search.

The operation was called off for the second night at around 4:30pm yesterday, amid concerns about the force of the water.

One of the teenager's school friends said: "Dean was fishing with his pal at the broken bridge in the woods. That's all we know.

"Some people are saying he fell in, but others say that he went in to fetch a ball, but no-one really knows what has happened."

One resident added: "Locals have been complaining about that bridge for years and campaigning for something to be done because it is so dangerous."

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police last night admitted that hopes of finding the youngster alive had faded.

However, she added: "We will be continuing the search."

A coastguard spokesman said that the river was in spate due to the recent heavy rain and had been running very fast.