The killer heatwave
Scorching spell claims 3 lives as swimmer, OAP & kayaker lost in water tragedies
THREE people died during the weekend heatwave amid soaring temperatures across Scotland.
The body of a 24-year-old man was recovered from the water near the Falls of Falloch, Stirlingshire, by police divers on Saturday at around 5.20pm.
Emergency services were called to the scene, around five miles from the village of Crianlarich, after reports of concern for the swimmer.
Members of the public watched in shock as paramedics and the Coastguard helicopter attended the incident.
On Sunday, a kayaker lost his life in the Outer Hebrides, and the body of an 80-year-old man was found in the water at Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire. Police said there were no apparent suspicious circumstances and a report would be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
Though cloudy in parts, it was scorching on Saturday, and Scotland had its hottest day of the year on Sunday.
Those in Leuchars, Fife, saw 28.9C (84F), with highs across the country including 27.3C in Edinburgh and 28.7C in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, which recorded the previous hottest day of the year in June.
England was given a ‘level-three’ heatwave alert – the second highest – with highs of 29.5C in London and the South-East at the weekend.
Mark Bryce, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s senior officer for Stirling, said the Falls of Falloch death was a ‘tragic event’. He added: ‘We will continue to work with partners to educate the public about the very real dangers of swimming in coastal and inland waters.’
The waterfall is popular with wild swimmers but can be treacherous. It has been the scene of serious incidents in recent years. Last summer, 11 people had to be helped to safety after wading out to a rock and becoming stranded.
In 2017, a mother of two from Glasgow shattered her foot after she jumped 30ft off the waterfall as part of a dangerous ‘tombstoning’ craze – where people jump into the water in a straight vertical position.
The kayaker who lost his life was a 59-year-old who had gone missing near Carloway on Lewis.
The alarm was raised after the man was due to have returned from a solo expedition at about 5pm. The Stornoway Coastguard took a call reporting him missing at 7.54pm and immediately scrambled its rescue helicopter and Stornoway’s RNLI lifeboat.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Around 9.40pm on Sunday, police were called by the
Maritime and Coastguard Agency over reports of concern for a man at Carloway Pier on the Isle of Lewis. Emergency services attended and found a 59-year-old man had died. His next of kin have been informed.’
Rescue teams from Breasclete, Miavaig, Bragar, Ness and Stornoway were also sent.
An emergency call was issued to all local vessels and two of those at sea at the time also participated in the search. The man was spotted by helicopter crew members but was found to be dead in the water. He was recovered by the helicopter’s rope rescue team and RNLI crew, who transferred him to Carloway pier.
In Helensburgh, emergency services were called to the pier shortly after 11am on Sunday after reports that the body of an 80year-old man had been found in the water.
Witnesses reported police, ambulance and
Coastguard personnel on the pier, while the local RNLI lifeboat is also understood to have been called out.
Police Scotland said: ‘We were made aware of the body of an 80-year-old man found in the water at Helensburgh Pier around 11.05am on Sunday, July 10. His next of kin are aware and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
‘However, there are no apparent suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in due course.’
In Wigan, Lancashire, a boy of 16 died after swimming at a quarry on Saturday. Police said the death was not suspicious.