Perth high school pupils rescue drowning women

Oct 9 2009 by Alison Lowson, Stirling Observer Friday

QUICK-THINKING school pupils have been praised for saving two women from drowning on a Perthshire loch.

The eight-strong Perth High School group – Grace Libby, Aimee Foubister, Rhona Moffat, Iona Colville, Olivia McDougall, Kirsty Butt, Finlay Turnbull and Fiona Scott – were canoeing in pairs from Killin to Kenmore as part of their Duke of Edinburgh silver award when they discovered an upturned kayak with its occupants in the water desperately clinging to their stricken craft.

Reflecting on the dramatic incident, Kirsty (15) said she thought rough conditions had caused the boat to capsize.

“We heard these two women screaming from the other side of the loch,” said the S5 pupil. They were raising an oar up and alerting us to say they were in distress.

“Grace and Aimee in one canoe saw them first and called the rest of the group to come over and help the rescue.

“Aimee managed to pull the first lady up into her canoe to keep her warm as Rhona and Iona arrived.

“They helped to comfort the women and keep her warm. I went up with Olivia to the other woman and we held her boat and talked to her.

“We saw a sea plane going over the loch and tried to wave it down but it was too choppy to land, so they called the emergency services from the other side of the loch.

“They came in a speedboat and overturned the women’s kayak for us.

“The women were lifted onto the boat and taken into the drying room on the other side of the loch.”

It is thought the two women had been in the water for over 45 minutes and, in Kirsty’s own words, they were “turning blue” by the time the rescuers arrived.

Perhaps due to the intense nature of the incident, neither staff at the Royal Yachting Association’s Firbush Point loch-side training centre nor the Perth High School pupils could remember the rescued women’s names, beyond one being called Louise.

Both, however, are believed to have been in their 30s and from Killin.

After being taken inside with the women to warm up, the pupils contacted teaching staff on Loch Tay’s far shore via an emergency line.

WERE you one of the women rescued on Loch Tay, or do you know them?

If so, we’d like to hear from you. To get in touch, call the newsdesk on 01786 451110.