Good Samaritans collect life rings thrown into river
LIFE- saving equipment which had been launched into a river has been retrieved by two Good Samaritans, who have hit out at the mindless act.
Paul Richardson and Sandy Johnston were carrying out a training exercise last week when they counted 19 life rings lying discarded along the River Leven, which runs through Dumbarton and Balloch.
The pair, who run water sports coaching businesses, decided to get together on Sunday afternoon to collect the life- saving equipment after it had been targeted by vandals.
The professional instructors used a canoe and kayak as they travelled down the river and retrieved more than a dozen buoys.
Paul, from Paisley, said: “It is shocking. You could maybe expect one or two to be flung in, but not 19.
“We took it upon ourselves to get out and collect them as soon as possible to help the local community stay safe.
“I think parents and families should sit down with their kids and have a chat about why the life rings are there and how they may be needed to help save someone’s life.”
Tragically, twelve- year- old Ava Gray drowned in the river in August 2020.
While two other youngsters were able to return to shore, Ava’s body was recovered after a three- hour search by the emergency services.
Meanwhile, four lives were lost in nearby Loch Lomond the following year.
In December 2021, 16 new life buoys were installed on all eight bridges which cross the River Leven by West Dunbartonshire Council.
The equipment was funded by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service ( SFRS) and purchased by local community group Open Water Rescue.
Paul, 47, said: “We started collecting the buoys at the top of the river and worked our way down.
“The river was moving quite fast and there were lots of currents, but we managed to collect most of them 15 out of the 19.
“It was too dangerous to attempt to collect the other four. Even some of the ones we collected were in dangerous places, but we got stuck in.
“The collected life rings were put in the van and taken to Dumbarton Community Fire Station, where they let us leave them for the council to collect.”
It is believed some of the life rings had been in the water for weeks, but will now be re- installed.
A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council said: “We are immensely grateful to Paul and Sandy for their kind and communityspirited efforts to recover these life buoys.
“Yet their actions should not be necessary and once again we are shocked and disappointed that that vital lifesaving equipment has been targeted by mindless vandals.
“The removal of these life buoys is extremely dangerous as, if unavailable, there could be devastating consequences for anyone who gets into difficulty in the water.
“There is also a significant cost and resource implication each time they need replaced.
“We urge anyone who witnesses any of this equipment being tampered with or stolen to contact Police Scotland on 999 if the incident is ongoing, or 101 if not.”
Area commander Joe Mckay, SFRS local senior officer for West Dunbartonshire, said: “We are extremely grateful to Paul and Sandy for their efforts to recover these lifebelts.”