A well-known taxi driver died yesterday when his cab plunged into a north-east harbour.
Graeme Reid, 42, from Peterhead, was trapped in the vehicle for more than an hour before he was pronounced dead at the scene – despite the efforts of a passer-by who dived into the water to try to save him.
Last night, his family described him as a “dearly loved and cherished” husband and a loving grandad. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, two stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Mr Reid’s black Hyundai Sonata car went into the water at Peterhead harbour at around 8.50am after being driven down Ellis Street and over the Seagate.
Onlooker Gavin Sutherland jumped in after it, but was unable to get Mr Reid out of the car and had to abandon his attempts. He was treated for hypothermia but was uninjured.
The 33-year-old offshore worker, said he “just did what anyone else would have done”.
Coastguard and lifeboat crews struggled for more than an hour to attach a rope to the vehicle before it could eventually be winched up on its roof at a nearby slipway.
Mr Reid, who went by the nickname “Manager”, was a driver with taxi firm Grab-a-Cab, based just yards from where the drama unfolded.
Witnesses described seeing the car – which had a yellow roof sign – career at speed towards the quayside before plunging into the water.
Aberdeenshire Chief Superintendent Mark McLaren added: “Police divers have entered the harbour to try to recover anything which may help with the investigation. However, I must stress there is no indication any other people were involved.”