June 22, 2007

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.

“I am ecstatic and elated on one side, but on the other so sad why we have had to do this,” Lisa told the PA. “We must make sure that this doesn’t happen to any other family. “It can’t bring Graham back but no other family should have to sit and go through that heartache.”

The electronically alarmed lifebelt system is the first major milestone for Safe-Tay, achieved just days after the campaign was officially recognised as a charity.

Superintendent Iain Bell, of Perth police, explained: “This will be linked up to our CCTV system and will enhance the safety facilities. “It will serve as an early warning on two counts: it will immediately alert us to somebody using the equipment and knowing that they face being caught and going to court.”

David Black, community fire safety support for Tayside Fire and Rescue services, also gave his approval to the alarm system.

He said: “This is about making the public more aware of water danger, particularly in the city centre.”

And Jim Valentine, depute director of the council’s environment service, was also among those who backed the scheme.

He added: “Having this system in place on the Queen’s Bridge will be a huge benefit to the emergency services and will assist them greatly.

“I think Lisa deserves to be congratulated for the work that her charity has undertaken and would hope that these measures will help to save lives.”

Lisa, who lives in Perth very close to the river which claimed her brother’s life, has worked closely with David Hughes, of AM Securities on Perth’s Shore Road, to come up with the alarm package.

She first learned of the electronic alarm system through Londonderry-based Foyle Search and Rescue.

For over the last three years, the rescue team in Northern Ireland have found vandals have steered clear of the lifebelts, which are now being protected by the specialist alarm system.

And Paddy Wilson, chairman of Foyle Search and Rescue team, has helped Safe-Tay understand how the system will work to safeguard the people of Perth.

To support Safe-Tay, or for further information on the charity, contact Lisa Stuart by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the Safe-Tay website www.safe-tay.co.uk.