Safety organisation warns of hazards after tragic death

A safety organisation has warned of the risks involving water following the tragic death seven-year-old Freya Skene in Dunkeld on Monday.

Freya died after getting into difficulty in the river at the Hermitage beauty spot with locals describing water levels as extremely high and fast-flowing on the day.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Scotland (RoSPA) has highlighted a number of hazards that families can face while visiting tourist spots.

Carlene McAvoy, community safety development manager, told The Courier: “Our thoughts are with the little girl’s family after this tragic incident.

“We don’t know the full details of what happened so it would be inappropriate to comment on the incident itself.

“In general, when visiting sites where there is water, we encourage families to be aware of the risks, both of falling into the water or of getting into difficulty when in the water.

“Hazards to be aware of include water temperature, which can be very cold even in the summer and can lead to cold water shock; the depth of the water, which could hide underwater ledges, hidden currents and other unseen items; and natural features such as steep banks, which can make it difficult to get out of the water.

“If someone is in difficulty in the water, call 999 and ask for the fire service for inland waters or the coastguard for coastal waters, and look for something that you could throw out to the person to help them float while emergency services are on their way.”

The latest tragedy comes less than a year after a 12-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty on the River Tay in Stanley in the same Strathtay ward as Dunkeld.

The young victim from Glasgow was rescued from the river on Sunday July 28 last year while playing water sports but sadly died in hospital two days later.

Police officers at the railway bridge on Tay Street. Picture: Stuart Cowper.