River tragedy family continue campaign
AGLASGOW family whose son lost his life in the River C l y d e a r e continuing their campaign for adequate lifesaving equipment to be installed along the city’s canal.
Duncan and Margaret Spiers have been calling for safety measures to be implemented across all waterways after their son Christopher died after falling into the Clyde on his way home from a night out in January 2016.
The family with the support of their local councillor Gary Gray are asking the city council and Scottish Canals to provide lifebelts with a rope attached along the Glasgow canal to help everyone who ends up in difficulty.
Mr Spiers said: “We have been campaigning for about four years. We want lifebelts to be rolled out across Scotland, but we are focusing on Glasgow first.
“We also want to have GPS signage, positioned next to the lifebelts, along all the canal which allows emergency services to locate someone in distress.
“We are doing this for Christopher, and we don’t want people to go through what we have been through.
“This project is about making sure our son hadn’t died in vain. So far, the lifebelts along the Clyde have saved six people and that is a big achievement for us.
“We hope other local authorities will look into implementing something similar.”
Mrs Spiers added: “In the nice weather a lot of people like to go into the water – it’s only human nature. These ropes should be there.
“There was no rope attached the belt that Christopher was thrown which meant it couldn’t be rethrown to help him to safety. We will support councillor Gary Gray in his mission to ensure ropes are attached at the canal. We are doing this in Christopher’s name.”
Mr and Mrs Spiers campaign has been successful so far in that lifebelts with ropes have been installed along the Clyde.
Hazard signs are also to be positioned in every park with waterways throughout the city.
The grieving couple have described the move as crucial has they believe it will help save lives.
We previously reported that Glasgow City Council has now confirmed it will be installing additional safety signs around Springburn Park in the interim while it seeks advice from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents ( ROSPA) on appropriate wording for signs around inland waterways in every city park.
The local authority has told the family that they are happy to support the implementation of hazard sings and will look at how they should be placed at the entrances of every park with a waterway in it.
Canal ward councillor Gary Gray is backing the campaign to help people who find themselves in difficulty.
Mr Gray said: “I am supporting Christopher’s saving lives campaign by asking the council and Scottish Canals to provide life saving equipment along the canal.
“The leader of the council has already pledged her support to install life belts across the Clyde, but I am hoping the council will extend this.
“If one life can be saved then it is worth it. I really admire the Spiers who have set up this campaign and don’t want anyone else to go through what they have suffered.
“We need a to give people a chance if they can’t swim.”
The family’s water safety campaign to the Scottish Government can be viewed ( https:// you. 38degrees. org. uk/ petitions/ saving- lives)
Scottish Canals has been asked for comment.