Urgent meetings to review safety measures have been held after a tragic weekend on Loch Lomond which saw four water-related deaths.
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority and other organisations including police and councils have met this week to discuss water safety measures.
Officials say the meetings aim to reflect on these tragedies and discuss potential further actions to improve water safety.
Edina Olahova, 29, nine year-old Rana Haris Ali and Muhammad Asim Riaz (39) all died in an incident at Ardlui on Saturday, while Connor Markward (16) died at Balloch Country Park the previous evening.
Park authority chief executive Gordon Watson said today: “It is difficult to put into words the scale and sense of loss the national park has seen over the last few days and our thoughts are first and foremost with the families of those who have died.
“Supporting people to enjoy the water bodies of the national park is of the utmost importance to us.
“It’s a key part of our role as the national park authority and a huge amount of work goes into this from raising awareness and promoting water safety, to having signage, and where relevant, public rescue equipment (PRE) available on visitor sites we manage.
“We are not alone in this. Water safety is a responsibility we share with a range of other public organisations and private landowners who own or manage key visitor destinations around the park.
“In light of these terrible events a series of urgent meetings have and are taking place this week with each of the local authorities and water safety partners involved.
“These meetings are aimed at reviewing existing water safety measures and identifying any potential further actions to be taken both in the short and the longer term.”
Director of environment and visitor services Simon Jones said the public was being asked to help share water safety advice.
“Water bodies in the national park can have hidden dangers, particularly the risk of cold water shock even in warm weather, and the potential for sudden changes in the depth of the water,” he said.
“By taking some time to read the water safety advice on our website and share this information with your families and friends you can help get these important messages to as many people as possible.”
Over the past year a water safety project has been undertaken by the national park authority which has seen the installation of a number of new water safety signs and public rescue equipment at some key visitor sites.
Officials say they are working with local authorities and landowners to identify popular water sites they own or manage where signa and equipment can be improved.
For advice on how to enjoy the water safely in the national park go to www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/watersafety
Part of the problem is the National Park itself and it’s inability or unwillingness to enforce the byelaws applicable to the Loch. The water rangers , including the patrol vessel Brigadier Pearson , are invisible. I am regularly at both Duck Bay and Luss and have seen no ranger activity there since it was announced that sea eagles were nesting on the Loch. It appears that chick life has a greater priority in the eyes of the LLNPA than human life. Rangers , ideally with Special Constable powers , should have been visible at both Duck Bay and Luss for most of the day last week during the heatwave, It is only by luck that there were no further fatalities there. I do not know what happened to the sensible idea a few years ago of enrolling all the permanent rangers as Special Constables.
I assume there is appropriate signage and life preserving equipment (similar to the photograph accompanying this article) available at key points around Loch Lomond and other waters around the National Park? I’ve seen plenty of both throughout the park. Beyond providing advice through signage, social media and other on-line outlets, whether on water, hills ar tracks, people need to be responsible for their own actions and wellbeing.