Loch Gairloch Canoe Tragedy: Search Resumes For Father Ewen Beaton

Search Resumes For Father Missing In Loch Tragedy
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A search has resumed for a man missing after a canoe capsized in a sea loch, claiming the lives of his two young sons and a five-year-old girl.

Ewen Beaton, 32, was among six people, including four children, in the boat when it overturned in Loch Gairloch, near Ullapool in the Scottish Highlands, on Sunday afternoon.

His sons Jamie, two, and five-year-old Ewen died later that night after being rescued by helicopter from the water and airlifted to hospital.

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Ewen Fraser Beaton, 32, who remains missing with his sons Jamie Beaton, aged two, and Ewen Beaton, aged five

A third child, Gracie Mackay, from Muir of Ord, near Inverness, died in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow yesterday afternoon.

Her 35-year-old father and eight-year-old sister had managed to swim to the shore and raise the alarm.

The search for Mr Beaton, from Beauly, was stood down for the day yesterday. He is presumed dead.

His 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."

Stornoway Coastguard was alerted to the incident at around 4.15pm on Sunday after Gracie's father and her sister, named locally as Garry Mackay and Callie, made it to the shoreline.

Peter Godding, sector manager for Stornoway Coastguard, said: "It's amazing really, she swam quite a long way in the sea, which is no mean feat. It's pretty incredible that she did survive, with the adult as well.

"She would have given the police certain information which they didn't have.

"The girl that survived is very courageous and very resourceful to be able to complete a 500-metre swim to shore. I mean, that's no mean feat for an adult but she's achieved that and managed in combination with the other adult to raise the alarm. She's amazing."

When asked about the Canadian canoe the group had been on, he said: "They are quite cheap vessels to purchase and unfortunately it's quite difficult to maintain the stability if you stand up in them."

James Cameron, 34, who co-runs the Sands Caravan and Camping site in Gairloch, Wester Ross, said he and a friend found the five-year-old girl.

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."

Police did not comment on reports last night that the children were wearing life jackets but their fathers were not.

The Coastguard confirmed that the search for Mr Beaton, which has become a recovery mission, had been suspended, with rescue team members ready to resume coastline searches this morning.

Carol Collins, Stornoway Coastguard watch manager said yesterday: "Unfortunately despite best efforts by all those out searching today, the missing gentleman has not been found.

"Our thoughts are with the families of those involved in this tragic incident at this time."