A COUPLE who lost their son in a tragic drowning incident is supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK's (RLSS UK) annual Don't Drink and Drown campaign.
Margaret and Duncan Spiers, from Balornock, have been campaigning to promote water safety following the death of their 28-year-old son Christopher eight years ago this month.
Before midnight on January 29, 2016, Christopher was making his way home alone after a night out when he found the Tradeston Bridge taped off due to an unsafe building in the area.
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Christopher, who was believed to be under the influence of alcohol, continued down to the water’s edge to try and get onto the bridge where he slipped under stormy conditions.
Despite several rescue attempts, Christopher couldn’t be saved.
The Don't Drink and Drown campaign was launched in 2014 following multiple tragic and high-profile students drownings.
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It aims to ensure people remain safe around water after a night out and encourage those who have been drinking to be responsible for their friends after a night out and ensure they get home safely.
In a sample of UK accidental drowning cases analysed by RLSS UK, figures revealed that 81% of those aged 16-25 who drowned under the influence of alcohol and drugs weren't with friends at the time of drowning.
Speaking about the campaign, Duncan said: "We are happy to support such an important campaign.
"It is vital people don’t walk home near water after a night out, as there are so many dangers.
"We are pleased to work with the Royal Life Saving Society UK to raise awareness of its lifesaving work and I know we have its support which means so much."
After Christopher's death, Margaret and Duncan founded the Christopher's Saving Lives Campaign in his memory and have dedicated their lives to promoting water safety and awareness of the dangers of outdoors.
The couple, who also sit on the Scottish Parliament Community Safety Committee as Water Safety Ambassadors, have successfully fought to have ropes attached to the lifebuoys at the Clyde since the incident and continue to do work within the local community to help prevent more tragic drowning accidents.
Duncan said: "We didn’t think of the dangers and risks associated with water until it happened to Christopher, and this is why we launched Christopher’s Saving Lives campaign.
"All Margaret and I want to do is save lives, we don’t want anyone to go through what we have – it’s been horrendous but we do this for him, in his name.
"We already know some of the ropes installed onto life buoys have helped to rescue a number of people, which is a privilege to know."
Margaret added: "Christopher was a happy go lucky person with a big heart, he loved to help others and was so caring.
"We feel very lucky to have had him as a son and he lives on in our hearts."
Lee Heard, charity director at RLSS UK, said: "As we mark the eighth anniversary of Christopher’s tragic death in the River Clyde, the work we carry out at RLSS UK continues to raise awareness of these devastating incidents, along with providing the public with vital water safety advice that could help save lives.
"Sadly, Christopher isn’t the only to have lost his life under these terrible circumstances.
"Our Don’t Drink and Drown campaign was launched following various instances where young people’s nights out have sadly not ended the way they had planned. We have seen cases of young people walking home after a night out, and for various reasons getting too close to the edge and ending up in the water – which is why this campaign seeks to encourage friends to Be A Mate and take responsibility for one another.
"We’d like to thank both Duncan and Margaret Spiers for their continued support for our Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, and for their help in raising awareness on this key issue in Christopher’s memory.
"We’d also like to praise their ongoing efforts to promote water safety education as we work to prevent any more lives from being lost to drowning."
You can find out more about RLSS UK's Don't Drink and Down campaign HERE.
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