This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7945639.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police believe body is lost cadet Police believe body is lost cadet
(about 2 hours later)
A body found on South Uist is believed to be that of missing Merchant Navy cadet Simon Macmillan, Northern Constabulary have confirmed. A body found on South Uist on Sunday is believed to be that of missing Merchant Navy cadet Simon MacMillan, Northern Constabulary have confirmed.
A post mortem examination will be carried out and a report surrounding the circumstances will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. A post mortem examination will be carried out and a report surrounding the circumstances will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
The 21-year-old islander went missing after a dance on Boxing Day. The 21-year-old islander went missing in the early hours of Boxing Day.
Police said a report is being sent to the procurator fiscal after a body was found at Loch Bi in the Gerinish area. Family friend Father Michael Macdonald said it would be a sad end if the body was identified as Mr MacMillan.
A spokesman said: "Northern Constabulary can now confirm that the remains recovered from Loch Bi, South Uist on Sunday are believed to be those of missing Uist man Simon Macmillan who was reported missing on 26 December 2008. But he also said the discovery may come as some relief following a long period of uncertainty for the MacMillans.
"A post mortem examination will be carried out and a report surrounding the circumstances will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal." Father Macdonald added: "I think too this is the correct occasion to pay some tribute at least, however inadequate, to the searchers who doggedly and persistently over the past 80 days have continued looking for Simon - even when the authorities had given up."
On occasions, as many as 200 people searched for Mr MacMillan.
Christmas dance
He had made a surprise visit home for Christmas after his vessel docked for repairs.
It was thought he was last seen in the early hours of Friday, 26 December, after stepping off a minibus at a point just a few miles from his home near Ardmore following a Christmas Day dance.
Police said a report is being sent to the procurator fiscal after the discovery at Loch Bi in the Gerinish area.
A spokesman said: "Northern Constabulary can now confirm that the remains recovered from Loch Bi, South Uist on Sunday are believed to be those of missing Uist man Simon MacMillan who was reported missing on 26 December 2008.
"A post mortem examination will be carried out and a report surrounding the circumstances will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."