They called paramedics fearing that the dead man may still be alive. When medics arrived they confirmed the man was in fact dead.
The man had fallen from the Kessock Bridge at Inverness on Friday and, after attempts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An undertaker took the body to Raigmore Hospital where, during routine checks, staff became concerned that the man was showing "potential signs of life".
The incident is being investigated by the procurator fiscal and National Health Service Highland, the BBC reported.
"Following retrieval, having been in the water for some time, the ambulance crew made every effort to resuscitate the patient," a spokesman said.
"However despite active resuscitation being carried out by the crew with no response, a clinical assessment was undertaken including ongoing cardiac monitoring and confirmed that the patient had died," he said.
"Following a 999 call from the mortuary at Raigmore Hospital an ambulance responded, along with a cardiac arrest team from the hospital. The patient was subsequently confirmed life extinct," the spokesman added.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
