Gairloch canoe tragedy victims named

THE two young brothers who died after a canoe capsized in a Wester Ross sea loch have been named as two-year-old Jamie Beaton and his older brother Ewen (5).

Their father Ewen Fraser Beaton (32) remains missing and the coastguard has suspended searches for today (Monday).

Their family has spoken of their "terrible loss" in a statement issued through Northern Constabulary.

It 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. It is too difficult to say anything more at this time and we would appreciate our family being left in peace to grieve our terrible loss."

Police are due to carry out further shoreline searches tomorrow (Tuesday).

Six people were in the canoe at the time of the incident which happened at 16.15pm on Sunday in Caolas Beag between Big Sands Caravan Park and Longa Island, Gairloch.

A 36-year-old father and his eight-year-old daughter managed to swim to shore and raise the alarm. His five-year-old daughter was recovered from the water and later transferred to Yorkhill hospital in Glasgow. Her parents are with her and her condition is described as serious.

The Beaton brothers were also recovered from the water and airlifted to Raigmore Hospital In Inverness, where they later died.