The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Body found in search for missing pensioner
Broughty Ferry man had last been seen on outskirts of York
A man’s body has been discovered after a large-scale search for a Dundee pensioner missing in Yorkshire.
John Symington, from Broughty Ferry, vanished after getting off a coach in a village on the outskirts of York.
Police officers described the death as a “tragic accident”.
A massive manhunt was launched for the 84-year-old, believed to be on a coach trip with his wife, who was last seen on Wednesday afternoon.
North Yorkshire Police called in a helicopter to scour the area around Warthill.
Specialist officers were also drafted in to assist with the search near Stocktonon-the-Forest.
Police combed the area for hours in the hunt for the pensioner only for the search to end in tragedy when they discovered a body yesterday.
The body was located in a wooded area about 400 metres from the Breezy Knees Nurseries, the place where Mr Symington was last seen.
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the body had yet to be formally identified but added that the family of Mr Symington had been informed and the search called off.
A neighbour of Mr Symington in Broughty Ferry said yesterday that he and his wife Helen were “a lovely couple”.
Police have also confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the find, which has been reported to the coroner.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “A body of a man was located in a wooded area about 400 metres from Breezy Knees Nurseries at around 1pm today.
“Mr Symington’s family have been informed about the sad discovery, although formal identification has yet to take place.
“Police have confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death which has been reported to the coroner.”
The spokesman also paid tribute to the assistance of the community and media during the search.
Mr Symington’s family have been informed about the sad discovery