Police Scotland is warning people taking part in outdoor water activities to ensure they are aware of the dangers, conscious of the weather conditions and are fully equipped before getting into the water after several incidents involving kayaks.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said:
“There have been several kayaking incidents in the past few weeks on Scottish waters and sadly this has resulted in deaths.
“We’re urging anybody taking part in outdoor water based activities to take safety messages seriously and check weather conditions before you set out.
“The weather and water conditions can change really quickly and even the most skilled of kayakers can get into difficulties.
“With many stretches of water located in remote areas, help will often be some time away so it’s important to ensure you have the knowledge and equipment to deal with all eventualities.
“Take responsibility for your own actions, use your common-sense and plan ahead to minimise risks”.
For Further Information:
Find out more about inland water safety from our partners Scottish Water at www.scottishwater.co.uk/takecare
To get more information about how to enjoy sea sports and Scotland’s coastline safely, get advice from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) at www.rnli.org/safety/respect-the-water
General advice about water safety is also available from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) at http://www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/watersafety
