Police Scotland responded to a call at Harlaw Reservoir, located off Harlaw Road, at approximately 4:55 PM on Monday, August 25.
Following a large-scale operation by emergency services, a man’s body was retrieved from a reservoir in Edinburgh.
The somber find was confirmed by Police Scotland at Harlaw Reservoir, situated off Harlaw Road in Balerno, at about 11 AM on Tuesday, August 26.
This followed an extensive coordinated search that began on the previous Monday evening when emergency personnel were alerted around 4:55 PM about a person in distress in the water.
Local residents noted a significant presence of emergency services near the dam area, with police forces being supported by the Coastguard and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp Group!
Sign up to receive the latest news directly to your messages by joining our WhatsApp group today.
Daily updates on breaking news and the major stories across Scotland will be sent to you.
Subscriptions are private, and only the Daily Record team can post messages.
Simply click ‘Join Community’ to subscribe!
If using a desktop, just scan the provided QR code with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.
We offer our community members exclusive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If at any point you wish to leave, you may do so easily.
To exit the group, click on the group name at the top of your screen and select ‘exit group’.
Interested parties can review our Privacy Notice.
Two fire engines, two water rescue teams, and about 20 firefighters were dispatched to the site, while a Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 199, hovered above as specialist divers searched the reservoir.
Despite thorough efforts, the individual was not located overnight. Search operations continued the following morning and tragically, the man’s body was recovered shortly before noon.
Although formal identification is pending, police have confirmed that a report will be forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated, “At approximately 4:55 PM on Monday, August 25, 2025, we received a call concerning a person in distress at Harlaw Reservoir, Harlaw Road, Balerno. Emergency services responded and conducted water searches to find the missing individual.”
“By around 11 AM on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the body of the man was retrieved from the reservoir. Identification procedures are still underway.”
“A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal,” added the spokesperson.
A representative from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service commented: “We were notified at 4:59 PM on Monday, August 25, of an incident at Harlaw Reservoir, Balerno, Edinburgh. Operations Control mobilized two fire appliances and specialist resources, and firefighters assisted emergency service colleagues at the scene. Our crews departed the area at approximately 7:23 PM.”
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
