THREE FEARED DROWNED IN HEATWAVE
Horror at beauty spots as thousands enjoy highest temperatures in Britain
TWO men drowned and another person was missing yesterday after tragedy struck at separate beauty spots as Scotland basked in the highest temperatures in the UK.
A 20-year-old man’s body was pulled from the waters of Loch Lomond by police divers, almost two hours after he was spotted struggling up to 50 yards from the shoreline.
Another man also died yesterday after being airlifted from Macduff harbour, in Aberdeenshire, when he got into difficulties in the water on Tuesday evening.
Fears were also growing for a third person who was reported missing at the Falls of Bruar, near Blair Atholl, Perthshire, where seven other people were rescued from the water by fire crews yesterday evening.
The incidents came as thousands took to the outdoors as Scotland enjoyed high temperatures, prompting fresh warnings about the dangers of swimming in rivers, lochs and quarries.
Residents living near Loch Lomond said the swimmer was first reported to be in difficulty by his mother at around 1.50pm yesterday.
Police, paramedics and specialists from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service arrived on the shore near Culag, around three miles north of Luss, soon after.
The volunteer-operated Loch Lomond Rescue Boat, a police helicopter and a private vessel sailing nearby were also called into action in the search.
But it is understood that the man, believed to have been swimming up to 50 yards out from the shore, had to be recovered from under the water by police divers.
Local sources said the swimmer was from Eastern Europe on holiday with his mother. He is said to have parked in a layby near the Culag guest house before taking to the water.
The guest house’s owner, Patrick Farrell, said the victim was not staying there but entered the beach from a lay-by close to the scene of the incident.
He said: ‘The victim’s mum was with the search team and she was crying her eyes out. It’s an absolute tragedy. They tried to save him but there was nothing they could do. The police divers told me the man was from Eastern Europe and had parked up in the lay-by to go for a swim.
‘There were police divers and search teams all over the water. I’ve never seen anything like it.
‘There are a lot of incidents in these waters. It looks calm on the surface but there are strong currents and the water was cold today. Loch Lomond is to be respected. It’s very dangerous.’
Police say the body of the man, whose identity has not yet been released, was recovered from the loch at around 3.45pm.
A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal, though it is understood there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
It came just hours after a man died following an incident at Macduff harbour, Aberdeenshire.
Police yesterday heaped praise on a 15-year-old boy who was fishing nearby and saw the man get
into difficulties on Tuesday evening.
The teenager dived in to help the man and threw a life ring around him before police, coastguard and lifeboat teams arrived to pull him from the water.
The man, who is understood to be from the Aberdeen area, was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by coastguard helicopter but died yesterday morning.
One onlooker said: ‘The 15-yearold boy threw a life ring around the man and managed to get him to the side. Then the paramedics arrived and two Filipino lads from the boat went to help him. Two paramedics gave the guy CPR for at least 45 minutes. They worked so hard giving him CPR and then he was airlifted to hospital.’
Police Scotland area commander chief inspector Neil McDonald said: ‘Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
‘Extensive enquiries have been carried out and we are content there are no suspicious circumstances.’
And last night, Police Scotland said a search operation was underway at the Falls of Bruar. Officers confirmed that seven people got into difficulty in the water and were rescued but an eighth person last night remained unaccounted for. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said specialist water rescue crews, a line rescue team and two vehicles were being used at the scene, while one male casualty had been transferred to the care of ambulance crew.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘We were called to the scene at around 5.50pm. We were joined by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the Scottish Ambulance Service, a helimed and our local mountain rescue team.’
The drownings came as Scotland basked in warm temperature.
Glasgow was one of the hottest places in the country yesterday as the mercury nudged 21C (70F). Met Office forecasters say the Aberdeen area should hit similar
‘Be extra vigilant around waters’
highs today, while temperatures in other cities rise to the high teens.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents issued a fresh warning against plunging into cold, unsupervised waters to cool down during hot spells.
Carlene McAvoy of RoSPA Scotland said: ‘During periods of hot weather and school holidays, there is often a rise in the number of accidental drownings, which is why it is important to be extra vigilant around inland waters, such as rivers, lakes, lochs, quarries and reservoirs.
‘The water can be a lot colder than expected, which can lead to a swimmer going into cold shock.’