A BAND of dedicated volunteers currently searching for missing Sauchie man Dean Wood say they will not stop until they find their friend.

After searching the bridge in teams last weekend, the group insist they will continue to scour the River Forth until his body is recovered.

Dean, who would have celebrated his 22nd birthday last week, has not been seen since he fell from the bridge side early on Friday morning, November 13.

So far, efforts from Police Scotland, the Coastguard and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have been unable to find any trace of him.

After the immediate shock of what had happened, hundreds of Clacks residents paid tribute to him on social media, including childhood friends Sarah Reynolds and Cheryl Macfarlane.

Shortly afterwards, Sarah set up the Help Bring Deano Home page on Facebook and together they arranged a search of the bridge and its surrounding area last Saturday (21 November).

The idea was met with support throughout the community with around 50 people coming out to help on the day.

Another search has already been arranged for this coming weekend, with an earlier time of between 12-2pm.

Sarah (24), from Coalsnaughton, told the Advertiser: “There were a few people that we knew that came out; but a lot were just people who saw the Facebook page and wanted to get involved.

“The support on the page has been unbelievable. Dean would have been touched by it; he really would.”

She said: “We will find him. I’m not giving up until I find him; I don’t care if I’m up there at the bridge myself. Dean wouldn’t stop if it was someone he cared about.”

Equipped with high-vis jackets, maps and winter clothing, the eight teams combed the waterside at Airth, Culross, Kincardine and South Alloa.

Cheryl (22), from Sauchie, added: “We just need him back; we have got to get him home.

"Everyone needs that, especially his family. We can’t have a funeral for him. No one can say goodbye to him because he’s not here.”

She added: “It’s nice that the community is coming together like this and a lot of people have been coming and asking us when there will be another search.

“He was such a nice person and touched so many.

"That’s the part about Dean that we want people to know about. 

She added: "The last thing we want is for him to be remembered as the guy who jumped off the Clackmannanshire Bridge.”

The group will meet at the Falkirk end of the bridge at 12noon on Saturday afternoon before again splitting into search teams.

There will be clock-in and clock-out system to make sure all the volunteers who take part are accounted for.

For more details, visit the Help Bring Deano Home Facebook Page.