The family of Barry McCullagh say their hearts have been “broken into a million pieces” after his body was discovered yesterday.
Barry went missing from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley on Wednesday, October 5.
The 41-year-old had been admitted the previous day after he had suffered a seizure and began hallucinating.
He left the ward around 5.20pm for a cigarette but never returned.
The dad-of-two, from Castlemilk, Glasgow, was later captured walking along Lounsdale Road, outside the Lord Lounsdale pub, around 5.33pm but was never seen again.
Today, his sisters April and Stacey paid tribute to Barry who they never gave up hope of finding alive.
Tragically, his death comes in the same year the family lost Barry’s younger brother Brian.
Taking to social media to express their love for Barry, his family also thanked those who took part in endless searches of the RAH grounds and surrounding areas.
His sister April, who gave birth to Barry’s nephew just weeks after the disappeared, wrote on Facebook: “Bro, our hearts are broken into a million pieces yet again.
“You didn’t deserve what has happened but now we can lay you to rest. You can finally be at peace and with our brother. We all love you millions and cherish every memory we have.
“You were such an amazing man and we will miss you millions, always and forever, life will never be the same.”
Barry was said to be utterly devoted to his family who had described his disappearance as completely out of character.
His sister Stacey, together with his sons Barry jnr and Josh, conducted endless searches for him in the days and weeks following his disappearance.
They put up posters all along the hospital and nearby cricket grounds and cycle path.
He was tragically recovered from the Old Patrick Water in Elderlsie yesterday.
A member of the public had called police having seen a body in the water on Sunday evening. The body was recovered and Barry’s family were informed.
Stacey, who posted a missing person’s appeal on Facebook for 174 days, wrote on the social media channel.
She said: “Hi everyone, just want to say thanks to everyone that shared my posts about my brother Barry that was missing for 174 days.
“Sadly, we got bad news on March 27 that police had found him dead. We are all heartbroken.”
Barry is survived by his two sisters April and Stacey, his parents Liz and Brian Snr and his two children.
His brother Brian passed away on October 18 having been in a coma for several months at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
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