A young police officer has died after plunging from a bridge into the River Forth.
Jamie Lynch, 28, from Kilwinning, Ayrshire, is the fifth Police Scotland officer to die suddenly in recent months.
He was pulled from the water near the Clackmannanshire Bridge on Sunday night.
Police chiefs said the force had been left “deeply saddened” by the loss of another colleague.
There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding Jamie's tragic death.
Emergency services were called to the scene after reports of “concern for a person” and the bridge was closed to traffic in both directions just before 9.30pm on Sunday.
Police, fire crews, a coastguard helicopter and search teams were drafted in as a full-scale search got under way, but nothing could be done to save Jamie.
A police spokesman said: “The body of a 28-year-old man was recovered from the River Forth a short time later following a search.
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“The death is currently being treated as unexplained, although there are no apparent suspicious circumstances.
“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
Many of Jamie’s friends changed their social media profile pictures to images of a blue candle on Monday in tribute to the officer.
Assistant chief constable Steve Johnson, Local Policing West, said officers would be offered support following the tragedy, along with Jamie’s loved ones.
He said: “We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of a colleague who died near Kincardine on Sunday.
“Our thoughts are with the officer’s family and friends at this very sad time.
“The death of a colleague affects everyone within the organisation and will be most keenly felt by those officers and staff who worked beside him.
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“It is important that they receive all our support.
“I will be visiting the officer’s family, friends and colleagues to offer our deepest sympathy and ensure they have access to the support they need at this difficult time.”
His death comes after four other Police Scotland colleagues died suddenly in the space of just three months.
PC Natalie Faulds , 25, was taken to hospital in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, earlier this month, where she later passed away.
The officer was based at Baird Street police station in Glasgow and was described, in a tribute released by the Police Federation, as a “much loved” member of the force.
In December, detective constable Gordon Gibson , 42, took his own life at Greenock Police Station
Colleagues rushed to the married dad-of-two aid but he couldn’t be saved.
He was described by a pal as a “fearless officer” with a “larger than life personality”.
In October last year, tragic Martin Mooney, who was based in Stirling, was struck by a train.
It emerged Martin, 40, had been on desk duties following an investigation after banter between uniformed officers and traffic police “went too far”.
A friend described him as a “lovely big guy” and said colleagues were “stunned beyond belief” at the loss of the dad.
The Record also understands that another experienced officer who had been based in the west of Scotland died suddenly in December last year.
None of the deaths are believed to be suspicious.