Tributes to Scots uni student who died in tragic Harlaw Reservoir incident

Tributes have been pouring in for a Scottish university student who tragically lost his life at a reservoir earlier this week.

Ayan Ayyub Khan, 23, had relocated from Maharashtra, India, to Scotland in January to pursue a degree in Robotics engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

His family confirmed that he tragically passed away at Harlaw Reservoir near Balerno, on the outskirts of the capital, on Tuesday, August 26.

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A large-scale search operation was initiated after police received reports of concern for a man in the water around 4.55pm on Monday.

Emergency services, including divers, two water rescue teams, 20 firefighters and a coastguard rescue helicopter, scoured the area but were unable to locate him overnight, reports the Daily Record.

The search resumed the following morning, and his body was recovered from the water around 11am on Tuesday.

In a statement shared with the Record, his family said: "Ayan was the only child of his parents and his untimely death has completely shattered the family."

His cousin Salman Nazeer Khan expressed: "His death is very sad for all of us. Ayan was very intelligent and he himself convinced his parents to let him study Robotics in Edinburgh."

It's understood that Ayan's loved ones are now focused on repatriating his body back to India as quickly as possible.

The family statement continued: "The grieving parents are waiting for the return of his mortal remains to India for the last rites. The delay in repatriation is causing them unbearable distress."

The Mirror has reached out to Heriot-Watt University and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for their comments.