Canoe tragedy - now a third child has died

[edam]

desperately sad story

Exactly, Lady. A horrible, tragic accident. Just so sad for those families. Please pass on my regards. We lost our 9-year-old daughter to acute myeloid leukaemia at Yorkhill on 7 July, in the same unit of the hospital were that little girl lost her battle for life (our child died in PICU, not the onco unit). Two of my parent mates from the onco unit there saw and spoke to the Mackay family and all were very, very saddened at her death.

I know expat, I followed aillidhs story, she was a very beautiful little girl and I cried for her. I haven't seen the family for a good few years now but my brothers and I grew up with them.

Just so sad, my father is an experienced canoeist and kayaker, I spent many many holidays plonked in the middle of an open canadian on rivers and seas and only capsized once. I think it was carrying too much weight so could have easily just sank having taken on little water

I'll never forget once talking to a family where the woman was wearing her LIFE jacket back to front so she would have drowned had she capsized as it would force her on her front!!!

I'm not into canoeing or kayaking but have a very very very healthy respect for water, the unseen currents and undertows, I am so glad that I have that awareness and have witnessed many careless attitudes towards the sea at beaches I would like to see far more education about water and to be careful of it.

Ladykopper - I don't think anyone wants to blame the poor families. Every parent has made mistakes in their time - most of us aren't so unlucky as to have such a tragic outcome.

the thing I fear is that the dads might have embarked on this trip when the mums were otherwise engaged & knew nothing about it

I keep coming back to this. Over-identifying with the ages of the kids compared to my own, I think.
Expat I'm so sorry to hear about Aillidh
LadyKopperberg I'm sorry. You're right. People will of course be trying to make sense of how such an awful thing could have happened, but blame will not bring the children or Mr Beaton back.

However the explanations about life jackets/buoyancy aids have been very thought-provoking. If I were ever to take the DCs out in a boat I would be much more sure about what safety gear we should all be wearing & what we should & should not do in terms of keeping ourselves safe on the water. This would be even more tragic if in the future other families had to suffer the anguish that the Beaton & Mackay familes are going through now.

I don't think anyone is laying blame but asking questions about how things could have been done better is reasonable and will help other people.

This thread has helped me, I wasn't aware of the different types of life jackets and it's certainly something I won't forget if I'm ever in a position to need them in the future.

I know it's absolutely won't make anyone involved feel any better but I do think there's been merit to this thread.

The boys' father is still missing, this must be so so hard for the family. I thought of them again today as there have been yet more awful reports this week of families getting into terrible difficulties in the sea - a little boy & his dad died in Majorca, and a mother caught in a riptide in Cornwall (although her 2 sons survived). There seem to be so many of these accidents happening this summer, it's very sad.

The children are being cremated next week and a memorial service is being held for them and Ewan. (nc am Lady Kopperberg) I heard a lot more ins and outs about what happened today and it's just awful.

So sorry NineCrimes/LadyK- you know the family don't you? I'm sure the full facts would be absolutely harrowing, can't even think about it without coming over all tearful.
I have been giving my kids so many extra cuddles since this happened. They are the same ages as the 2 little boys & this story has really got to me, above all the other awful water-related tragedies these last few weeks .
RIP little ones, & I hope the boys' dad is found.

It did seem as though there was some unexpected event which sparked this tragedy, because all the reports were focusing on how totally calm (glass like) the loch was, which made it seem highly unlikely it was the water or wind conditions involved.

The tragedy is a total tragedy whatever the reason, but at least this clarifies that they set out in perfect conditions and it must never have crossed their minds that anything like this could happen.

I too have learned a lot about bouyancy aids and Life jackets on here, so hopefully this event will raise awareness generally. It does seem as though there have been more drownings this summer - or is it just how they've been reported? Very very sad

I'm not sure whether specific details about this event should be broadcast on here though... It could be upsetting for the families involved.

That's a point janey though speculation about what happened can't be any less upsetting. I will have it pulled though just incase.

nine - that's just so sad to hear, I can't imagine what those involved are going through. No doubt the details will become public anyway when the inquests are held.

janey68 - I agree, that is why I reported it this morning.

Devasting to read that the Ewan's body still hasn't been recovered