ROSEANNA CUNNINGHAM (PERTH SNP): Asked the Scottish Executive whether consideration will be given to reviewing the current arrangements for the rescue of persons from moving water.
THE MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY (FERGUS EWING) Responsibility for the co-ordination of land-based and inland water search and rescue rests with the Police, given their duty to protect life and property. That responsibility is undertaken in partnership with others, such as the fire and rescue services and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
ROSEANNA CUNNINGHAM: The situation that the minister describes is not borne out in practice. The phrase, “persons trapped in moving water” is used by the fire service to describe drowning incidents, of which there are an increasing number, including in the River Tay at Perth.
Is the minister aware that no emergency services is specifically charged with the duty to carry out such rescues, which has resulted in inconsistent practice in Scotland and the threat of disciplinary action against officers who carry out rescue? In the circumstances, will he agree that the situation cannot continue, for the sake of community and individual safety, and in fairness to the fire officers, who carry out those rescues?
HOPES are high that a desperate river rescue in Perth, which ended in tragedy last summer, will never happen again – thanks to the hard work of a new local charity.
Almost a year ago promising young Perthshire musician Graham Motion drowned in a tragic river incident in the River Tay.
As rescuers desperately scrambled to try and save the struggling 20-year-old from the water, they were horrified to discover the lifebelt stands near the Tay had been vandalised and vital lifesaving buoyancy aids removed.
Now, in a move to help prevent a repeat of the tragedy, a charity set up by Graham’s sister, 33-year-old Lisa Stuart, received approval from emergency services and the council this week to forge ahead with a safety scheme which could see an alarm fitted to the lifebelts at the Queen’s Bridge.
Linked to the local CCTV system, the alarm – which uses mobile phone technology and each cost less than £1000 would alert police the moment anyone tries to remove the lifesavers.
