Fundraiser for family of Faslane worker Josh Gayton surpasses £10,000 after body found

Over £10,000 has been raised for the family of a Faslane worker who went missing in Helensburgh after a night out.

Josh Gayton, who worked at the Naval Base, was last seen speaking with a member of the public at around 12.25am on Tuesday, April 16 outside the Riva restaurant on West Clyde Street.

Extensive searches were carried out by the Royal Navy and Police Scotland by land, sea and air in the area to find the 21-year-old.

A body was found at around 6.20pm in the water off Helensburgh on Sunday evening and his family were notified.

Police said formal identification is yet to take place.

Glasgow & West

Police launch internal inquiry into officer handling of missing man

The family of Josh Gayton, who worked at Faslane Naval Base, was notified after a body was discovered on Sunday.

A fundraiser set up for his family has surpassed £10,000 worth of donations in just two days after an initial target of £2,500 was set.

A post from the Gofundme’s organiser read: “It is with great sadness that a body has been found this evening.

“My thoughts are with Katie and her family.

“The money that we raised will help Katie and the family bring Josh home and will help towards them give him the send off he deserves.”

Mr Gayton was handed a fixed penalty notice by officers for urinating in public in Helensburgh after midnight on the same day he was reported missing.

Police Scotland have now opened an internal inquiry into the way officers handled the incident, with the matter referred to the force’s Professional Standards Department.

Guidelines issued by police state that they will automatically refer certain serious incidents to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner when “direct or indirect” contact with the police is the cause or contributory factor in someone’s death.