THE family of Saltcoats man Corry Ferguson say they will be "eternally grateful" to those who helped search for the 26-year-old after it was confirmed that a body found earlier this month was his.

Posting on the Missing Person Corry Ferguson Facebook page on Tuesday, relatives said they had been "holding on to the tiniest of hope" that the body, discovered on Irvine beach on March 18, was not Corry's.

Corry had been missing since March 1 after last being seen at the Spar shop on Wheatley Road at around 9.35am that morning. Hundreds of locals joined public searches in the Three Towns in the weeks following his disappearance.

The social media update said: "Tuesday 1st March 2022 the day that changed so many lives forever.

"Corry got up and went about his normal business that morning before he went missing... after 17 days of what can only be described as hell the family got the dreaded call to say a young man's body had been found at Irvine beach.

"Twelve days of uncertainty and holding on to the tiniest of hope that it wasn’t Corry all came crashing down today and the police have confirmed that Corry was in fact the young man discovered on the 18th of March 2022 at Irvine beach.

READ MORE: More than 100 join the search to find missing Saltcoats man Corry

"The family know nothing more at this point."

The post was filled with comments in reply paying tribute to the young man and his family.

The statement added: "However what they do know is the support of the local community has been overwhelming and the love surrounding Corry has been beyond comforting.

"Thank you to everyone for being respectful to the family over the last few weeks, nothing seems real but the reality of that call today has hit hard.

"To everyone who shared/liked posts, donated time to distribute flyers/posters, donated ink, joined the searches, donated hot drinks for those searching, offered transport... there’s just so many of you to thank individually.

"We as a family will be eternally grateful and in your debt.

"Our boy will be home soon and we will be able to lay him to rest."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 6.45am on Friday, March 18, 2022, the body of a man was found on the beach at Irvine beach park.

"Formal identification has taken place and it is confirmed as 26-year-old Corry Ferguson, missing from Saltcoats since Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious."

A fundraiser has now been launched by a kind member of the public to help with funeral costs for the family.

Find it here: Fundraiser launched to help pay for funeral costs of Corry Ferguson