Three people died in the tragedy in Loch Lomond over the weekend
(Picture: PA Archive)A man has told how he tried to save his wife who died in the Loch Lomond tragedy which also claimed the lives of his nine-year-old son and a family friend.
Edina Olahova, 29, and Rana Haris Ali, nine, and Muhammad Asim Riaz, 41, died after getting into difficulty in the water near Pulpit Rock at Loch Lomond in Scotland on Saturday evening.
Waris Ali said they stopped at the beauty spot when they headed home from Skye.
The children were on a pier and went into the water thinking it was shallow but it was “too deep” and they “went under”.
Mr Ali recalled how his his wife saw the children drowning and the adults jumped in to save them.
He told Sky News: “I managed to stay afloat and head towards the shallow water, but when I got out, I saw my wife’s hands outside and just her eyes out of the water. I took my shirt off and threw it to her so she could grab it, but she couldn’t. I then went to go and get help.”
He said a Scottish man saved Mr Riaz’s son but they were unable to rescue the other three from the water.
Mr Ali said: “I was trying to save my wife for some time, took my shirt off but realised I couldn’t do anything to save her. And the guy who came couldn’t save anyone else, just Asim’s son.”
The seven-year-old boy was taken to hospital.
Three further people died in separate incidents in Scotland’s waters at the weekend, making it one of the worst in memory for the fire service, according to a senior officer.
An 11-year-old boy died in a river at Stonehouse, a 13-year-old boy lost his life in water at Hazelbank in Lanark while a 16-year-old boy died at Balloch at the south end of Loch Lomond on Friday.
Speaking about the deaths on Monday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “These are just heartbreaking human tragedies.
“Like everyone else across the country my thoughts are with the families of those who are grieving loved ones right now.”
She added: “These tragedies are a reminder that the beauty of some of our waters often belies the dangers they hold.
“Even if you think you’re a good, strong swimmer, if you don’t understand the current or the depths or the impact of sudden cold water on the body, then you can be putting yourself in real danger.
“I think we’ll want to reflect on what more can be done to educate young people about the dangers as well as the beauties of water.”
