Son of tragic ‘Nessie Hunter’ vows to continue his legacy sailing Loch Ness

The hunt for the Loch Ness monster is entering a new era, as the son of one of Scotland’s most famous ‘Nessie Hunters’ vows to keep his legacy alive.

Much-loved skipper Dave Bell sadly died from a heart attack at just 54 in February, but his son Mike has vowed to keep sailing the mysterious fresh water lake, near Inverness.

Dave, who was born in Wales, was well respected in the Highland community, and through his firm Loch Ness Cruises he offered tourists from across the world the chance to try and glimpse the famed monster and enjoy Scotland’s beautiful scenery – in a boat called Nessie Hunter.

And now Mike, 26, has revealed that he is really looking forward to the challenge of following in his dad’s footsteps after coronavirus shut down their tours.

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He told the Daily Record: “It’s been strange getting ready for the new season without Dad because I keep thinking of things that come into my head that I’d like his brain about but he’s not there.

“This will obviously be our first season without him but I want to keep his legacy alive on Loch Ness.

“He had many jobs through his life and lived all over the place but when he came here something in him just clicked and he loved giving tours.

“I can see why. With us being closed so long I sometimes look at the Loch and just long to be out there.”

The first 2021 sighting of the monster Nessie was officially recorded in February.

There were 13 “confirmed” sightings in 2019.

Recently a woman sparked a frenzy when she discovered the skeleton of a huge beast on the coast of the Outer Hebridean island of South Uist – and questioned ‘is it a relative of Nessie?’

Theories quickly emerged about what animal could have left behind the mysterious bones could have been, with it receiving over 17,000 likes and 1,100 comments.

They ranged from the fantastic, with a cousin of Nessie or even a dinosaur being suggested, to the more mundane (and much more likely), with them being attributed to being the remains of a beached sperm whale.