A FATHER given "closure" by a rescue charity that recovered his daughter's body from the Clyde has hailed a new search and recovery boat.

Today a new launch - the Lede - will be added to the fleet of the Glasgow Humane Society, a 230-year-old institution.

It is larger and tougher built than its predecessor and will, the charity said, make the river safer.

Welcoming Lede, a Whaly 500, to the GHS fleet, vice-chairman Gordon Goldie said: "The Glasgow Humane Society recovered our 18-year-old daughter Sarah’s body from the Clyde after she went missing in 2016.

"You can’t accept what has happened until you get closure and we couldn’t get closure until Sarah was brought home.

"An hour was like a day and a day like a week at that time and in the end the wait for us was four weeks.

"When she was returned to us it was a great feeling of relief and we couldn’t have been more grateful to the charity.

"Lede will dramatically improve how the GHS does this job for families facing the same tragic circumstances as we did."

The boat is named for the bomb-sniffer dog owned by the boat’s operator, GHS Officer William Graham.

William adopted him when he left the Army after they had served together in Afghanistan but Lede, a black Labrador, died last year.

William said: "It’s very important to be able to help search for someone and return them to their family and this new boat is a step change in how we do that.

RETRANSMITTED ADDING EMBARGO..EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY MAY 31..Undated handout photo issued by Glasgow Humane Society Gordon Goldie with his daughter Sarah. father whose daughters body was recovered from the River Clyde by a rescue charity has said a

RETRANSMITTED ADDING EMBARGO..EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY MAY 31..Undated handout photo issued by Glasgow Humane Society Gordon Goldie with his daughter Sarah. father whose daughter's body was recovered from the River Clyde by a rescue charity has said a

"Lede is much larger than its predecessor and we can do so much more.

"It’s more robust, more stable and more powerful than the boat it replaces and it is great to have an up to date piece of equipment which will be of huge benefit to the people of Glasgow.

"This boat has better handling and steering, which is vital on the fast-flowing Clyde and the special drop-down bow means we can undertake rescues and recoveries more safely.

"We can even beach the boat at low tide if necessary.

"The last boat was fibreglass and if we hit something it broke and there was a danger you could actually sink.

"This one is much tougher.

"Lede’s predecessor was designed for speed, which is not really necessary for this job, but this vessel is built for robustness and size and is a real gamechanger.

"When I left the Army I adopted Lede, who had been my bomb-sniffer dog in Afghanistan, and he came to work with me on the river.

"It’s so fitting that he’s back with me on the water in this special way."

Glasgow Humane Society rescuer William Graham with bomb-sniffing dog Lede in Afghanistan Picture: Glasgow Humane Society

Glasgow Humane Society rescuer William Graham with bomb-sniffing dog Lede in Afghanistan Picture: Glasgow Humane Society

The Glasgow Humane Society, the oldest life-saving organisation in the world, says safety on and around the River Clyde will be dramatically improved with the introduction of its new state of the art £20,000 rescue boat.

The vessel is made of high-density roto-moulded recyclable polyethylene and powered by a 50 hp outboard engine.

Its double-walled construction makes it incredibly strong, stable and impact resistant with little or no maintenance needed, meaning it is ideal for the GHS.

It has a unique drop-down bow to help the crew with rescues and recoveries.

It is fitted with entry-level fish finder equipment which has a GPS system allowing the crew to mark any submerged object it finds.

As well as rescue and recovery operations the GHS, formed in 1790, carries out a variety of bespoke training and support tasks for groups ranging from the emergency services to schools, sports clubs and private businesses.

GHS chairman Jim Mearns said: "For nearly 250 years the GHS has proudly served the people of Glasgow.

"We have adapted and improved to make sure we can meet the needs of those living, using and working on or around the River Clyde and other waterways.

"This new craft is another improvement which will allow us to continue to assist those who need us.

"We could not have bought the new boat without our donors and funders – donations to the charity are always welcome."

Lede will be berthed at the Kelvin Marina next to the Tall Ship, at the heart of the charity’s downriver operating area, between the tidal weir in the east and the Renfrew Ferry in the west.

Lede will be named by Lord Provost of Glasgow Philip Braat, who will pour a quaich of malt whisky over her bows at a special ceremony at the Kelvin Marina today.