The family of two young brothers who died in a canoeing accident which also killed a little girl off the west coast of Scotland say they are “utterly devastated”. The boys’ father remains missing.
Ewen Beaton, five, a primary one pupil at Teanassie Primary School near Beauly, and his two-year-old brother, Jamie, were on board the boat which capsized in Loch Gairloch, near Ullapool in the Scottish Highlands, on Sunday afternoon.
Gracie Mackay, five, from the Muir of Ord, was also in the canoe. Although she was rescued, she died today at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow after she was found face down in the water wearing her life jacket.
The search for their father, Ewen Fraser Beaton, 32, has been stood down for the day.
The family issued a statement through Northern Constabulary.
It said: “We are utterly devastated by what has happened and the loss of our beautiful little boys. We appreciate all that has and is being done by emergency services to find their adoring father, Ewen.
“It is too difficult to say anything more at this time and we would appreciate our family being left in peace to grieve our terrible loss.”
Six people from two families – two men and four children – were on board the boat.
James Cameron, 34, who co-runs the Sands Caravan and Camping site in Gairloch, Wester Ross, told how he and a friend became involved in yesterday’s rescue mission and managed to locate the five-year-old girl in the water.
He said: “I happened to be out in the boat yesterday when I heard there was an incident.
“We were just coming in and heard there was a girl missing, so we went out and actually found her.
“We found her face down, she was unconscious. She had her buoyancy aid on, it was keeping her afloat but it wasn’t keeping her head out the water.
“We took her in and we did try our best to resuscitate her. The coastguard helicopter then picked her up off the boat and took her away to Broadford Hospital.”
Mr Cameron said the incident has left the local community stunned.
“Everyone is devastated,” he added.
Teanassie’s parent council paid tribute to the Beatons. Chairman James Martin said@: “The school community is devastated by this tragic news. The Beatons are a well-known and highly respected family and the impact of their loss will be felt throughout the community.”
Highland Council leader Drew Hendry spoke of how the events had affected the community. “This is a terrible tragedy that impacts on a close-knit community,” he said. “On behalf of the council, I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the famil. Our thoughts are with them at this very sad time.”
Alison Donald, acting headteacher at Teanassie, said: “As we are a small community, the school, parents and wider community will feel this loss deeply.”