By Richard Burdge

AN ANGLER was swept to his death after straying into the outflow from a Perthshire hydro scheme, a fatal accident inquiry heard yesterday.

Despite attempts to reach Gordon Robertson (42), stuck in the middle of the River Tummel, staff and holidaymakers at Tummel Valley Holiday Park were unable to help.

Yesterday, at the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death on July 17 of Mr Robertson, from Gorebridge, witnesses said he had been fishing in a prohibited area and was caught unaware by the rising river levels.

A maintenance man at the holiday park, Joseph Byrne, said he became aware that someone was in trouble at about 11am. He saw a man wearing chest waders in the middle of the river.

“The river was flowing fast, very fast,” he said. “They had opened the gate at the hydro.” Mr Byrne said when water was released from the nearby hydro power station the river level at this point rose by four or five feet.

He saw Mr Robertson “in trouble” using his rod to brace himself against the fast-flowing current.

Along with several other people he entered the water and tried to throw a life ring to him but failed to reach the man.

“He could not move, he was frozen,” said Mr Byrne. “The water was going down the back of his waders.

“I saw him turn, he must have lost his footing and he was away. He got pulled under, he came back up then he disappeared.”

Among those giving evidence was Steven Wheeler (17), who had been on holiday with his family, including step-father Mr Robertson.

He accompanied Mr Robertson on an early morning fishing expedition which started upstream of the camp but had gradually moved towards it. The last time he saw his stepfather was mid-morning when he was standing on a rock 18ft out into the river, which was calm.

Andrew Alexander, from Loanhead, said he had arranged to go to the holiday park at the same time as his friend Mr Robertson and his family.

The witness said he had been a keen trout fisherman until the incident which claimed his friend’s life.

They got up at 5am to go fishing and had bought permits the night before.

The witness admitted he had not read the details of where these allowed them to fish.

They went north of a bridge for some time.

But, as Mr Alexander’s children became bored, they headed towards the holiday camp.

When Mr Alexander left Mr Robertson he was wearing chest waders but was still fishing from the bank.

He later heard he had been swept away and was called on to identify the body of his friend.

A helicopter was summoned and spotted Mr Robertson’s body.

Staff at the holiday park carried out prepared procedures for such an emergency including spreading out down the riverbanks.

Gary Gough, general manager of the Tummel Valley Holiday Park, said they sold permits for the river on behalf of the estate that owns the fishing rights.

Fishing was not permitted downstream of the bridge and there were nine signs along that stretch warning it was a fast-flowing river.

Professional angler Alastair Gowans, from Pitlochry, said it was his understanding of the wording on the permit that fishing was only allowed from Kinloch Rannoch as far down as Tummel bridge.

He said it was up to each angler to make themselves aware of the scope of the permit, and the danger signs should have made someone inquire further about whether fishing was permitted on that section.

Mr Gowans said if you were caught in the river and in danger of being swept away, the best thing was to float on your back in a crucifix position.

The inquiry watched a video reconstruction of how the river water rose following a discharge by the hydro station which revealed the level and current changing over an 18-minute period.

After watching the video Mr Gowans said he thought an angler should have been aware of the rising level and got out of the water.

At the conclusion of evidence depute fiscal John Malpass said the inquiry highlighted dangers posed by hydro electric generation to leisure users of the river.

He said Mr Robertson’s widow, who was present at the inquiry, was keen that the tragedy suffered by her family should not be repeated.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher will hear further submissions today before issuing a written determination at a later date.