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Police investigate possible human leg bone found on Dunnet beach


By David G Scott

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Many items get washed up on Dunnet beach from fishing nets to dead sea creatures but what appears to be a human leg bone was discovered by visitors.

Dorcas Sinclair from Caithness Beach Cleans (CBC) was busy collecting debris at Dunnet last Thursday (August 31), as part of the eco group's aim to rid the shoreline of plastic pollution, when she bumped into a couple of German tourists.

Police collect the suspected human bone at Dunnet beach.
Police collect the suspected human bone at Dunnet beach.

"The couple had found what they thought might be a human thigh bone and were not sure what to do about it," said Dorcas. "They were advised to contact the police using 999 as the tide was coming in and the bone was at the tide edge.

"The couple removed the bone as it was in danger of being washed out to sea again and placed it where the police could recover it."

The remains of a seal on Dunnet Beach back in 2019. Seal carcases and similar creatures often wash into the bay and can be mistaken for human remains. Picture: DGS
The remains of a seal on Dunnet Beach back in 2019. Seal carcases and similar creatures often wash into the bay and can be mistaken for human remains. Picture: DGS

Dorcas was informed by officers at the scene that it could not be confirmed to be a human bone and may, in fact, be from a seal. Tests would need to be made to determine the nature of the bone, she was told.

She described the bone it as looking old with a knee joint which appeared to be in "fairly good shape at one end but the other end was very damaged".

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Thursday, 31 August, 2023, officers were made aware that a bone had been discovered on Castletown beach, Thurso. Examinations are being carried out and enquiries are ongoing."


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