Canoe accident in Scotland

[Samba]

I disagree that there is anything sinister about this. Scottish lochs are incredibly cold and even if it was a good day, the water would have caused hypothermia very quickly.

I don't think they were on holiday, it was just a day trip, and who knows as yet, may have been something they have done on a regular basis.

Two of my school friends drowned when the boat they were fishing from over turned in a local loch, they were with their father and uncle, who clung to the upturned boat. When no help seemed likely, they made the decision to swim for shore. One made it,, but saw his friend struggling, so went back in to help him
This was also in mid-summer. As 17 year olds, you never ever forget that kind of tragedy.

[cheeky_biscuit]

Samba that's so tragic too
I think it was all a tragic accident. So sad, the poor families involved must be asking a million what if's.

[bluekat]

Yep it was probably the cold that did it, but it is incredibly stupid to be there in the first place with the wrong safety gear and 4 small kids to only 2 adults.

[Mrs Moss]

Yep it was probably the cold that did it, but it is incredibly stupid to be there in the first place with the wrong safety gear and 4 small kids to only 2 adults.

I agree Bluekat. Utterly tragic for the families and so sad but I find it insane that any parent would take such risks. There is no way one parent could save two children in out of depth water.

DH and I were sailing recently on millpond smooth water and we were not allowed on deck without our lifejackets on end of.

[Adelelee]

Yep it was probably the cold that did it, but it is incredibly stupid to be there in the first place with the wrong safety gear and 4 small kids to only 2 adults.

and its something the wife will have to live with for the rest of her life, a moments mistake and thats it, so sad

[Miss_Jane]

Well, I'll hold my hand up and say that I didn't/don't know the difference between a buoyancy aid and a life jacket. I thought they were the same thing. And supposedly they hired them from the same people they hired the canoe from? So I'd be blaming the canoe people, as well.

I read today that it was their own canoe they were on. Neither of the dads had life jackets on Apparently the surviving dad has said he doesn't know what happened, one minute they were in the canoe, the next thing it had capsized and the kids were floating away from him. It's so terrible

['Line]

My SIL has been swimming there and although when she went in it was calm, both her and my brother have said that the sea state can change incredibly quickly.
It is such a tragedy.

[smiley]

My dad has a boat and he insists my boys wear their life jackets as soon as they step onboard. No jacket, no boat, even on a very hot day.

He bought the boys age appropriate jackets, ds1 one has been passed onto DS2 then DS3 as he grows and he gets the next size up. They are totally different from a buoyancy jacket.

A buoyancy jackets is basically a jacket with thin floats to 'aid bouyancy'
A life jacket is much thicker and is a jacket with straps that go between the legs so they can't slip off. The have head supports and are designed so that if you were unconscious you would float face up and have the best chance of survival. They also have a light and whistle and are luminous to aid recovery.


I thought we were very safety conscious but this tragedy has hit me that WE don't wear life jackets on the boat. They are available (stored under the seat ) but what use is that if we capsize? How can we help the kids if we drown? It seems a bit OTT for us to wear life jackets too, but DH, my parents and I have decided that is what we will all do in future to protect the kids.


My heart aches for the poor mother who lost her husband and two kids for a moment of recklessness


S xxx