Our hearts have been ripped out
Parents’ grief as ex-accies player dies at waterfall
The parents of a former Hamilton Accies youth player who died in a tragic accident at a beauty spot have had their “hearts ripped out”.
Pauline and Willie Scott are devastated at the sudden death of 18-year-old son Liam, who passed away last Thursday after falling into the water at the Falls of Clyde, Lanark.
Now the heartbroken couple are calling for safety measures to be put in place at the site.
The devastated parents of a promising young Lanarkshire footballer who died after falling into the Falls of Clyde last week have called for safety measures to be put in place at the site.
Pauline and Willie Scott, of Motherwell, have been left “heartbroken” and “angry” after the tragic death of their son Liam, a former Hamilton Accies youth player, last Thursday.
The couple, along with their other children Harry and Lara, learned that Liam had passed away after falling off the water’s edge and into the waterfall at the popular Corra Linn beauty spot in New Lanark.
His friends desperately tried to save him, but the 18-year-old had been swept away. Liam’s body was recovered in the water the following day, on Friday, June 19.
His exhausted mum Pauline, originally of Bothwell, told the Advertiser: “We are devastated beyond belief. Just heartbroken, but also angry that Liam went there in the first place.
“It may look beautiful but it is completely and utterly dangerous as we have found out in the worst circumstances.”
Pauline said her son, who finished his fifth year at Braidhurst High School last year and shortly after left Hamilton Accies after five seasons for The New Bellshill Athletic Football Club, had jumped into the water three times that day.
Liam, an apprentice with Saltire, and his pals were getting set to leave when tragedy struck.
She added: “Liam had jumped into the three waterfalls and was getting ready to leave when he fell backwards.
“He was laughing up to his pals saying he couldn’t get back up and by the time they had got to him he had disappeared under the waterfall.
“Out of the three boys that were there he was the strongest swimmer and a very fit boy, and we just cannot comprehend how he could have been overpowered.
“We were told that the day after Liam’s accident, people were still up there jumping into the waterfalls. Myself and Willie are adamant now that we need to get something in place up there to try and stop this happening again to someone else’s child.
“Our hearts have been ripped out by this, as have our entire family, as well as Liam’s girlfriend Courtney – they were so in love.
“No parent should have to bury their child, particularly in such a tragic accident.
“It is vital that safety measures are put in place and we urge anyone who
can help to please do so.”
Pauline added: “On behalf of the family we would like to thank the emergency services for all of their efforts in trying to save our son.”
Following Liam’s death at Corra Linn, MSP for Clydesdale Aileen Campbell said: “My heart breaks for the family and friends of the young lad who tragically lost his life at Corra Linn – my thoughts and condolences are with them. It is painfully sad that a landscape so popular and so beautiful could cruelly take the life of someone so young.
“I know that the emergency services and the community did all they could, and I thank them all for this effort.
“It is a reminder that the beauty of Corra Linn hides the potential danger at this stretch of water. And as we enter phase two of easing restrictions, and given the warm summer weather, extra care is needed when visiting sites such as Corra Linn and enjoying the outdoors. I will be contacting the council and others to see if there are any actions we can take to remind people of the risks posed or any additional messaging that we may need to consider.”
South Scotland MSP Claudia Beamish added: “I was saddened to hear about the incident at Corra Linn falls and the tragic death of a young man. My sympathies are with his family and friends. My thoughts are also with the emergency services who attend incidents with the highest professionalism in the face of such tragedy.
“I expect there to be a Fatal Accident Inquiry given the sudden nature of the death that will involve the appropriate public authorities. This formal process will look at if and how the death could have been avoided and a risk assessment of the area will consider what safety precautions should be put in place. I will support this process and the recommendations in any way I can.”