Body of Scottish tourist found

A body discovered in Italy is thought to be that of a Scottish tourist missing for five months.

Police are almost certain that the decomposed remains found by a farm worker are those of Robert Tyack, a 60-year-old Coatbridge teacher.

He disappeared, near the resort of Amalfi in June, after telling his wife he was off for a walk in hills nearby.

She raised the alarm after he failed to return, but the only thing found by searchers was his rucksack.

Mountain rescue teams said the bag still had untouched food and water inside.

Mr Tyack's disappearance baffled both police and his family, who on Thursday were unavailable for comment.

It looks like he probably had a fall or an attack and fell into the gully and was washed down river when the rains came in the autumn Amalfi police spokesman

Last month a renewed appeal for information was made by officers in the southern Italian seaside town.

Mr Tyack's family was due to highlight his case on the Italian version of Crimewatch.

Talks had taken place between them and police and British consulate officials in the nearby city of Naples.

At the weekend a man picking mushrooms found a body and alerted police.

DNA samples

It was in a mud-filled gully a short distance from where his rucksack was found.

A police spokesman in Amalfi said: "We are 99% certain the body is that of Mr Tyack.

"Credit cards with his name were found in one of the pockets but because of the time that has elapsed the body was very badly decomposed.

"It may be that to be absolutely certain DNA samples may have to be taken but that is up to the investigating magistrate to decide.

"An autopsy will also have to be carried out but at this stage it looks almost certain that it was a tragic accident.

"It looks like he probably had a fall or an attack and fell into the gully and was washed down river when the rains came in the autumn."