Published: Wednesday, 3rd June, 2009 9:00am

Heartbroken parents call for riverside patrols

by David Knox

CALLS are being made for riverside patrols following the drowning of a teenager in Kelso on Sunday.

The heartbroken parents of 13-year-old Martin Moriarty want to see guards positioned near popular swimming spots.

Andrew and Ann, who moved to Scotland from their native Ireland only last year, hope to prevent any more tragic accidents by pushing for cash to be made available to fund patrols.

Their son drowned after being pulled beneath the water by strong undercurrents at the Junction Pool – where the Teviot Water meets the Tweed – just before 6.30pm.

The Kelso High pupil, who has seven brothers, had just returned to Kelso following a family day out at Berwick, and had gone to the river with three friends to cool off.

Mr Moriarty, 48, told the Border Telegraph: 'If some funds could be raised to pay for a lifeguard at this stretch of the water, then I believe it would be a small price to pay.

'We are still trying to establish exactly what happened but apparently Martin got dragged underneath by the strong undercurrent.

'His friends managed to get out but Martin was swept away and it was an hour later when they found him.

'When we got back [from Berwick] Martin said he was going out to play with some friends but we had no idea he was going down to the Junction Pool.

'If we knew that, he would not have been allowed.'

Hundreds of children descended on the Tweed and its tributaries during the weekend as temperatures soared towards 30 degrees.

Dozens of youngsters were seen splashing at Boleside near Galashiels and many others enjoyed a dip at popular pools on the Yarrow Water near Selkirk.

But Sunday"s tragic accident has sparked renewed safety warnings.

Sergeant Eddie Kelly of Lothian and Borders Police, said: 'During periods of hot weather the temptation is there to enter bodies of water that look safe.

'But they often present unseen hazards in terms of sudden immersion into cold water, which saps energy.

'We would ask people to stay out of the water.

'We also say they should not be tempted to go into the water to help someone in trouble.

'It is better to throw a buoyancy item or to hold a jacket or jumper out for them to get hold of them and try to pull them in that way.'

Emergency services teams were called to the Junction Pool at 6.30pm on Sunday.

A specialist water rescue team from Galashiels backed regular services at the scene and Martin"s body was recovered just before 7.30pm.

Attempts to resuscitate the popular schoolboy failed.

His social networking website was packed on Monday with messages of condolences from friends.

Martin"s devastated best friend Sindy Collins, 14, described how she tried to save him.

She commented: 'We were swimming in the river and it was very shallow. Then all of a sudden we went down as there was a big drop.

'I reached out to try and grab his hand but he could not reach mine.

'He was getting weighed down, probably by his jeans, and then he disappeared.

'I didn't realise it was so dangerous and I would tell people not to go in.'

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