Man killed as he and brother fall from bridge

POLICE are investigating the death of a man after he and his brother fell from a road bridge in the Highlands.

The incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning on the Kessock Bridge on the outskirts of Inverness.

There were no witnesses that have yet come forward, but Inverness police are working on the theory that it was a drunken prank that went wrong, rather than a suicide pact or foul play. They have yet to talk to the surviving brother.

The dead man, who has not yet been officially named, was 23-year-old support worker Alex Duggan. His brother, 26-year-old Joseph, survived the 100ft plunge into the icy waters of the Beauly Firth.

They both shared a home at 15 Ord Terrace, Invergordon.

The brothers were in Inverness for a night out on Tuesday evening and were seen drinking in the Smith and Jones pub in the city centre.

It is understood the pair tried to find somewhere to stay in Inverness without success and decided to hitch a lift home.

They were seen by a witness walking towards the Kessock Bridge and there was no suggestion of any dispute between the two. The dual carriageway suspension bridge is skirted on both sides by four foot high barriers to prevent anyone falling.

About 3am a householder in North Kessock was wakened by badly injured Joseph raising the alarm. Both men had fallen into the water and the police and ambulance were called.