The dangers of falling through ice covered rivers and lochs cannot be stressed enough. Every winter, people die because the ice gives way beneath them and they plunge into freezing water and cannot get out.
If you fall into running water the current pulls you downstream, under the ice sheet, making it nigh on impossible to break through the covering of ice holding you underwater. Still water in ponds and lochs is just as dangerous, every time you try to climb out, the ice edge breaks off.
At the week end, Loch of the Lowes was frozen over and covered with snow. Four people, two adults and two smaller figures (children?) were seen walking on the ice in the middle of the loch. This was extremely dangerous. Fortunately, they headed back towards the bank before tragedy occurred but this was by pure luck.
Disguised by the snow, the ice was actually not very thick and it was also thawing. Within half an hour of the people leaving the loch, large fissures of open water began appearing.
It is incredibly dangerous to walk out onto stretches of water covered by ice, especially in Scotland’s fickle weather of mild one day, freezing the next.
Please be aware and make sure your loved ones and friends, both two and four legged, are also warned of this possibly fatal hazard.
Cherry