Rain warnings across Scotland as three die in Welsh river tragedy
Scotland is battered by storms and weather safety warnings are in place across the UK after three people were killed in a paddleboarding tragedy in Wales.
Several warnings for heavy rain and high winds were issued yesterday and will continue into today, with further disruption predicted by forecasters.
The Met Office had several yellow weather warnings in place across the central belt over the weekend with Glasgow, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders impacted until last night and, in some places, until the early hours of this morning.
A warning has been issued for high winds during the early hours of today before easing later this morning, covering Lothian and Borders, Dumfries, Galloway and Strathclyde, while a heavy rain warning was in place last night covering Central, Tayside, Fife, Grampian and the Highlands.
Meanwhile, three paddleboarders died and another was fighting for her life after being swept away in flash floods in South Wales. The paddleboarders are believed to have got into difficulty on a river in Haverfordwest on Saturday morning, caused by the bad weather.
The four, who were understood to have been part of an organised outing, were hit by a deluge as they paddled near a weir on the river.
A huge rescue operation was mounted on Saturday night involving four helicopters, a lifeboat, firefighters and police.
However, Dyfed-powys Police confirmed that two women and a man had died in the incident and it is believed one paddleboarder was in intensive care in hospital last night.
Police have not yet released the names of those who have died but said their next of kin are being supported by specialist officers.
Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Rees said a full investigation was already under way but at this stage his thoughts were focused on the loved ones of those who had died and the injured paddleboarder who remains in hospital.
The force said: “Dyfed-powys
Police received reports of people in distress in the Cleddau River in Haverfordwest shortly after 9am on Saturday, October 30.
“A group of nine adults from the south Wales area had travelled to Pembrokeshire for a paddle-boarding excursion.
“The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated, but it is believed that the group got into difficulty in the water.
“Sadly two women and a man died at the scene, and a woman remains in a critical condition in hospital. Next of kin are being supported by specialist family liaison officers.”
The Quay Street area was cordoned off for several hours, with the public asked to avoid the area while a search of the river took place.
Thirty firefighters from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, including specialist wading crews and swift water rescue technicians, responded to assist with the rescue.
Twofireboatswerelaunched to assist with bank and river searches.