Family 'left feeling numb' following death of teenager in canoeing tragedy on River Tweed
Last updated 24th Mar 2021
The family of a teenage girl who lost her life in a canoeing tragedy on the River Tweed say her death has left them "feeling numb".
Emergency services raced to the scene, near Kelso, after the alarm was raised around 3.30pm yesterday (Monday).
However, despite a full scale search and rescue operation being launched, a body was later recovered from the water.
The girl was just 15-years-old. Locals say her family run a cafe in town, which is closed today.
A poster in the window reads: “For the next few days the cafe will not be opening. A sudden death in the family has left us all feeling numb. Thank you for your kind thoughts. God bless to all.”
The Borders Water Rescue Team and two helicopters joined police, fire and ambulance crews on the ground following reports of a canoeist in difficulty, near Trows Farm Cottages - just off the A699 Kelso-Maxton road.
One local said two people had been canoeing on the river when tragedy struck.
One of them - believed to be the youngster - is understood to have become trapped on a rock in the middle of the river.
Although the weather was fair, another local described that stretch of the Tweed as challenging.
A spokesperson for the Coastguard said: "At just before 4pm yesterday (22nd March), Aberdeen Coastguard received a report of an incident at the River Tweed, South of Kelso, Scotland.
"The HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter from Prestwick was sent, at the request of Police Scotland, to assist the police, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Ambulance Service at the scene."
Police say enquiries to establish the full circumstances around the incident are ongoing.
Detective Inspector Alistair Sellar said: “We were called around 3.30pm on Monday, 22 March 2021 to a report of a canoeist getting into difficulty on the River Tweed, south of Rutherford, near Kelso, on Monday, 22 March.
“Emergency services attended and a rescue operation was launched.
"A 15-year-old girl was recovered from the water a short time later. Her family are aware.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”