Parents in plea over life- saving kit at loch
THE bereaved parents of a man who died after falling into the River Clyde are calling on Glasgow City Council to rethink the placement of life- saving equipment at Hogganfield Loch.
Duncan and Margaret Spiers fear another death or casualty may occur at the city park as safety signage depicts that lifebelts and other lifesaving equipment is being held at nearby Lethamill Golf Club.
Their warning comes after they lost their own son Christopher in 2016 after he slipped on the banks of the River Clyde and tragically drowned. He was just 28 years old.
In the four years since his death, the couple have campaigned strenuously for safety measures to be stepped up along the Clydeside and in waterways across Glasgow.
Now, the water ambassadors are calling on the local authority to move the equipment closer to the loch’s banks as they have stressed “there is not enough time to run from one end of the park to another” to retrieve a lifebelt in the event of an emergency.
Duncan said: “It’s sick to think that people are left without any protection. If you’re not close to the
building then the equipment is completely out of reach and the circumstances could turn for the worst in any case of an emergency.
“We also understand that the building is meant to be getting shut soon for refurbishment. So we are wondering if the belts will be completely unavailable during this time.”
Hogganfield Loch is a 1.3- mile- long waterway surrounded by a pedestrian route. Lethamill Golf Club is situated on the South West side of the loop.
Margaret said: “If somebody falls into the water and finds themselves in difficulty something needs to be done within a minute. Time cannot be wasted on somebody running from one end of the park to the other to retrieve lifebelts.
“It could happen anywhere around the loch at any time. There’s no time to be wasted if somebody needs help.
“If somebody tries to also jump in to help whoever is struggling then that could end in two fatalities, too.
“People forget there are things like algae, currents underneath the surface and the fact that the loch itself is very deep. Not only that, but the water is very cold and as soon as you are in the water you could get cold water shock which can cause your heart to stop.
“It is urgent that the equipment is moved directly to the
waterways. It should have been done a long time ago and shouldn’t have ever been like this in the first instance.
“We know that people like being close to the water and even on a hot day, being inside the water, but what they don’t realise are the dangers. We’re scared another person might die or find themselves seriously injured.
The couple recently secured success in their campaign after Glasgow City Council agreed to install hazard signs at every park with waterways in Glasgow.
Duncan added: “We’re not anti- water, we like to see people enjoying waterways safely and securely.
“We just don’t want more deaths.”
Glasgow City Council said that the lifebelts had been transferred to the golf club after being targeted by vandals. A review is currently under way.
A spokesman said: “Unfortunately lifebelts have been a target for vandalism in the past and the current situation at Hogganfield was put in place to address regular misuse of the lifebelts by the loch.
“We are currently reviewing all water safety measures we have in parks and other open spaces to understand where improvements can be made.
“The safety equipment available for Hogganfield Loch will very much be part of that review.” any