General Chat

Thinking of Dan's family and friends especially today

Duncan, and Dan and his family have been in my thoughts this Christmas, as have many of my friends who have lost their children or young people in tragic circumstances over the years - Christmas is so much a family time, and to have some one missing from the fold is hard to cope with. Liz

only just seen this thread What a terrible thing Liz A similar thing happened near us recently. They have built a whole row of night clubs and pubs at the 'waterfront' and a couple of months ago a young lad came out of one and fell into the cold waters and drowned. He couldnt swim and was a fraid of water. his family said that he always walked away from the edge in case he fell in. Peole jumped in to help him but couldnt find him. The firebrigade got his body out. It seems obvious that when people have been drinking that being near water there is a danger so why dont they take that into consideration when building these places. They should put up proper barriers to prevent it happening again.

Norwich City Council had Rospa accident checks and a report suggested more safety measures, but in their 'wisdom' Norwich ignored them. Some further measures taken now but far too late. Paul died because he could not see the safety ladders into the water, the lighting showed the pathways but not the river edge and the water level was extremely high that night. There are now special waterproof titanium? lights situated at the top of the ladders under the edge of the walkway. Too late for Paul but might help if it happens again. People were shouting to Paul to swim to the ladder but he couldn't see them and got so cold he just sunk. Imagine being a parent and having to hear that at the inquest. Liz

Many thanks for all your kind replies. It's a comfort to know that there are so many goof people out there who can understand and empathise with 'ordinary' human tragedies, and many have shared similar ones. (I say that on a day when the main news is about Saddam Hussein.) Anyway, Duncan and friends got back safely, although arriving at Heathrow on the first day of the fog/ flight chaos. Dan's funeral has been arranged in Minehead for 4th January, then we 'll get on with the job of helping the young folk move forward with their lives. They're all bottled up at the moment, and I think will need a lot of support for a long time to come. Thanks once again, Philip

Good to see you posting, Philip. Shall be thinking of you and all concerned on the 4th and later, too.