By Liz Fowler

THE MOTHER of a 13-year-old Brechin boy spoke yesterday about how her son struggled in vain to save his best friend from the River South Esk on Saturday.

Twelve-year-old twin Scott Wilson of Bridge Street, Brechin, was pulled from the river unconscious and, after treatment at the scene by paramedics, was flown by air ambulance to Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

He never revived and was formally pronounced dead at around 5.15 pm.

To cool off on one of the warmest days this summer, Scott had gone swimming with his friend Marc Meldrum, whose home overlooks the South Esk in River Street.

They were in an area beside the Inch on the South Esk, near Brechin Castle, known locally as Black or Castle Hole. They were swimming over the rapids at the low water mark, around 3.20 pm, when they got into difficulties.

The emergency services were summoned by passers-by who heard the boys shouting and Marc was quickly recovered from the water.

However Scott disappeared from view and despite the best efforts of passers-by and emergency services it was some 20 minutes before he was located.

“Marc did everything he could to try and save his pal,” said his mother Dorothy, on returning home with her son from Ninewells where both had spent the night.

Following his rescue, she said, they had been taken to Brechin police station for interview by officers. Her partner Colin MacLaren had then driven them to Ninewells Hospital where Marc had been detained for observation.

“We saw him settled in hospital then left him for the night,” said Ms Meldrum. “But he was distressed and I was called back to stay with him. He is in a state of severe shock and heartbroken, but at least we still have him.

“Our thoughts are entirely with Scott’s family and the tragic loss they are having to bear.”

She said Marc had related to her how he had struggled until he had no energy left to try to help his friend.

“He managed to get to the riverbank and all the time was shouting for somebody to help them. Passers-by helped him out of the water and got him to sit in the shade.

“They were in the rapids, just behind the leisure centre, and the irony of it all is they were just about to get out when they got into difficulty.”

The boys, both pupils of Brechin High School, had gone everywhere together, she said.

Scott’s parents George and Lorna Wilson, and his twin brother Alan, were yesterday being comforted by family and friends.

They were too upset to talk about the tragedy.

Neighbours described them as a close-knit family. One said, “The boys are not normally out on their own. All summer they have tended to go on day outings with their parents. Now they are just a week back at school and this happens. It is just so sad.”

Brechin councillor Joy Mowatt, whose ward includes both families’ homes, said the loss of a young life was desperately sad for the whole community.

She said, “My heart goes out to the family of this young lad. I understand everything possible was done to try and revive him and I would like to pay tribute to the emergency services.

“I would like to express my sincere condolences to Scott’s parents.”

Fellow Brechin councillor Ruth Leslie Melville said her sympathies went out to Scott’s family.

She said, “It is devastating news. Everyone in Brechin will be horrified by what has happened and I hope the family is getting all the support that can be given.

“The frightening thing about water is it can be two inches deep and be a danger. Children have no conception of danger and, with the best will in the world, children are adventurous and these tragedies do happen.

“My heart just goes out to the family. I’m sure everybody did everything in their power to try to save the wee lad—what a tragic outcome of youngsters being youngsters.”

A fisherman on the river said the water in the area where Scott went missing was deep with a strong undercurrent akin to a whirlpool that could have dragged him down. He said a similar tragedy had occurred further down the course of the river several years ago.

* As coastguard teams from Montrose and Gourdon were taking part in the boys’ rescue from the river at Brechin, another emergency involving youngsters was developing on the east coast at St Cyrus.

Around 4 pm the teams were diverted to the aid of three teenage girls with two dogs trapped on rocks at the north end of the beach by the incoming tide.

The Montrose lifeboat Moonbeam was launched and the inshore lifeboat diverted to St Cyrus from the mouth of the South Esk where it had been stationed on guard.

A search and rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer was also called to the scene and the girls and their pets were airlifted to safety. All three were visitors to the area and were uninjured.

“It was a nice day when it’s the natural thing for kids to get into water,” said Darryl White, coastguard sector manager.

“But we’ve had a terrible year in this area, the busiest I can remember in 17 years here.

“It is sad to see so many incidents involving children. Water is dangerous but the message doesn’t appear to be getting through.”