Three children have died and a father is missing after a canoeing accident off the coast of Gairloch in the north-west Highlands. Five-year-old Ewen Beaton and his two-year-old brother Jamie, along with five-year-old Gracie Mackay, died in hospital after their boat overturned on Sunday. The body of the boys' father, 32-year-old Ewen Beaton, has not yet been found, and shoreline searches have been stood down for the day. Police have said they will continue their efforts in the coming days.
Gracie's father, 36, and her eight-year-old sister Callie managed to swim to shore after the craft capsized in a sea loch and raised the alarm with the coastguard. The two families, from near Beauly and Muir of Ord, were on a day trip when the tragedy struck. Councillors representing the small communities have described the incident as an 'unbelievable tragedy' and have offered their support.
Brothers Ewen and Jamie Beaton were airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, but later died. Gracie was flown to a hospital on Skye and then transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow, where she passed away with her parents at her bedside on Monday afternoon. Northern Constabulary said changeable weather conditions, including heavy downpours and high winds, had not affected search operations but that there was still no sign of Mr Beaton.
In a statement, the Beaton family 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.' The Mackay family described Gracie as a 'funny, caring, thoughtful daughter and granddaughter, full of life who loved animals and being outdoors,' adding that they were 'devastated by the loss of our best friend.'
Five-year-old Ewen had just started at Teannassie Primary School, while his brother Jamie was due to begin nursery in the new year. Highland Council said the 61 children at the school and their teachers were receiving specialist support. The headteacher of Gracie's school, Tarradale Primary in Muir of Ord, described her as a 'happy, thoughtful little girl who was popular and well liked by everybody,' and said the whole school community was deeply saddened.
