£2k raised for canoe tragedy families

Published on 10/09/2012 00:46

Almost £2,000 has been raised at a charity car wash for the families of victims of a canoe accident that claimed the lives of three young children.

Firefighters from Beauly Fire Station, near Inverness, held 
the car wash on Saturday to support the Beaton and Mackay families, who live locally, following the tragic incident on 26 August.

Ewen Beaton, five, and his brother Jamie, two, died after being pulled from Gair Loch, in Wester Ross, when the six-man canoe they were in capsized.

Their five-year-old friend Grace Mackay lost her fight for life the following day at hospital in Glasgow after she too was rescued from the sea loch.

The body of the boys’ 32-year-old father, also named Ewen, has not been found. He is presumed drowned.

Grace’s father, Garry, 35, and sister Callie, eight, managed to swim the 500 metres to safety to raise the alarm.

Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service said a total of £1,762.62 had been raised, after drivers had queued up to have their cars washed.

Some of the vehicles were not actually dirty, but members of the community wanted to show their support regardless, the station’s watch manager, Malcolm Hannah, said.

Deputy chief fire officer Stewart Edgar said it was “another fine example of support for the community being provided by the community” and he praised the commitment and compassion of the firefighters involved in the event.