A BABY and its parents were spotted on a paddleboard without life jackets by a shocked kayak instructor.
Paisley man Paul Richardson has issued a desperate plea for anyone travelling to Loch Lomond to wear safety equipment when on the water.
The 46-year-old, who runs Calamity Kayaking, revealed that there are still a lot of problems with people being unsafe - despite several tragedies last year.
On a warm weekend in July 2021, four people tragically drowned at Loch Lomond.
Connor Markward, 16, lost his life at Balloch Country Park on Friday, July 23.
The following day, Edina Olahova, 29, her son Rana Haris Ali, nine, and their friend Mohammad Asim Raza, 41, passed away at Pulpit Rock.
Another three people died from drowning elsewhere in Scotland over the same weekend.
Paul was at Milarrochy Bay on Thursday night when he spotted a couple on a paddleboard with no life jackets.
He was even more shocked when he noticed the pair had a baby onboard with them.
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He said: “The mother and father thought it was a good idea to take their baby on a paddleboard with no safety equipment, no life jackets or nothing, not even on the baby.
“They were too far out so I went out on my kayak and advised them that life jackets or buoyancy aids are required by law.
“By the time I got to them, I was knackered. The mother had the baby between her legs.
“I advised them of their unsafe paddling, and they were happy to stick beside me when coming back to land to make sure they were safe.”
A similar incident took place last year, just weeks after the drowning tragedies, when Paul spotted a couple and their baby, also on a paddleboard. The child was strapped to the man's chest in a harness and none of them had life jackets or buoyancy aids.
Paul operates kayak and paddle boarding lessons from Milarrochy Bay Camping and Caravanning Club Site as well as Balmaha.
He added: “Carol, the manager of the site, is supportive of safe kayaking and safe paddle boarding lessons for her customers.
“But as we’ve been teaching, we notice there’s still a big increase in members of the public going on the water with no safety equipment and getting themselves into trouble. And this is happening all over Scotland.
“There are signs up everywhere around Loch Lomond stating that safety equipment is required.”
Under Loch Lomond byelaws, visitors must ensure that their vessel is carrying sufficient life jackets or buoyancy aids for every person on board.
Paul says that Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park staff have been doing a fantastic job in making sure people are aware of the rules.
He said: “They have increased their patrols and signage but it’s falling back on members of the public who are disregarding the signs and basically have a bad attitude to wearing buoyancy aids - especially in the sun, because they say it affects their tan line.
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“The attitude coming from paddleboarders is that ‘people who have drowned couldn’t swim’, and ‘I can swim - that’s why I don’t need a lifejacket’, and it’s a disgrace that’s their attitude.
“You could be too far out and the paddleboard pops because of the heat and the next minute you’re in the middle of the loch with no life jacket or buoyancy aid to help you get back to shore.”
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