New signs have been installed at Aberdeen beach in a bid to help people stay safe as the summer sun draws people to the seaside.
Community safety minister Annabelle Ewing visited Aberdeen Lifeboat station to inspect the signs and highlight the dangers of open water.
Last August Northfield mum Julie Walker died after plunging into the water in an effort to save six-year-old son Lucas who had been swept away by a big wave.
The youngster died later in hospital.
Ms Ewing urged people to take care as the weather heats up and more people visit beaches, lakes and swimming pools.
She said: “Scotland’s beaches, rivers and lochs are among our finest natural resources and everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy them, particularly in warmer weather when the sun’s out.
“However, as we have seen on a number of occasions in recent weeks, water can be very dangerous.
“Whether it’s sailing, swimming, diving or fishing, anyone undertaking recreational activities in and around water must be aware of the risks and take every possible precaution.”
Ms Ewing said the new signs at the city’s beach highlighted the importance of knowing when the tide would turn to keep safe.
She said: “Please pay attention to signs such as the recently-installed warnings at Aberdeen beach I have seen today and be aware of tidal patterns if heading into open water.
“The Water Safety Scotland website has a number of resources if anyone is unsure of the best approach.
“There will be some great opportunities for fun in the water in the coming weeks but I want everyone to be diligent and take a common sense approach.”
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) community incident reduction manager Michael Avril thanked the minister for helping to highlight water safety.
He said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Annabelle Ewing MSP to our lifeboat station in Aberdeen as an advocate for water safety.
“30 people lost their lives around the coast of Scotland in 2016, with more than half (57%) of those being people who didn’t even intend to enter the water.
“As part of our national drowning prevention campaign – Respect the Water – we’re asking people to ‘fight your instincts, not the water’ to help stay alive if they fall into the water.
“Our research has revealed that six in ten people (61%) in Scotland would follow a potentially life-threatening instinct if they fell unexpectedly into water. The RNLI is now calling on the public to fight their instincts and remember one simple skill – floating – that could save lives from drowning.”
