The family of a young boy who died after getting into difficulty while swimming with friends has urged others to be aware of the dangers of open water.
William McNally was at the Clay Pits in Linwood, part of River Gryffe, when he got stuck under the water for a 'significant period of time'.
The 13-year-old was eventually pulled from the water and rushed to hospital where he sadly passed away due to his 'catastrophic injuries' on June 5, 2021.
Speaking on the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, William's mum has made a plea for young people to look out for each other and ensure no other family has to go through what they have.
Sharron Drennan said: “I want to thank everyone who tried to help William that day. William was, and still is, very much loved and adored. He is missed by everyone, which was made abundantly clear last year when Linwood came to a standstill for his funeral.
“I want to make a plea to all young people, please make sure your mum doesn’t have to go through what I have. Please look out for each other and make sure all of your friends get home safely.”
William's aunts Jayne and Claire Drennan have also urged young people to be aware of the dangers of swimming in open waters.
They described the impact of losing the much-loved teenager as 'catastrophic'.
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Jayne said: “William had been involved in an accident in the River Gryffe when he had been out with his friends that day and we were contacted in the early hours of the Thursday morning and just told to get to the hospital. When we got there, they said his injuries were catastrophic as he’d spent, what they called, a significant period of time stuck under the water and the damage to his brain was irreparable.
“The impact of losing William has been catastrophic on the whole family. There’s a hole been blown through us that will never, ever, be able to be fixed. It is just a case of trying to get through the day really, and it’s been that way for a year.
“My sister has lost her son. My niece and nephew have lost their brother. My parents have lost their grandson and we’ve lost a nephew.”
In the wake of the incident, Renfrewshire Council placed seven new GPS signs at potentially dangerous areas along the River Gryffe as part of a drive to improve the safety of all waterways in the area.
Jayne added her plea for young people to familiarise themselves with the signage and be aware of the dangers of water swimming.
She said: “It’s important to know where you are, know what’s underneath you, and know how to use the nearby equipment, with signage and codes.
"Just familiarise yourself with where you are and try to know the risks a wee bit better. Just be more aware and look after each other and if somebody does get into difficulty, then get the right help as quickly as possible.”
Communities and housing convener, Councillor Marie McGurk, said the council commissioned the video featuring Jayne and Claire to help young people know the dangers of swimming in rivers and other bodies of water.
Councillor McGurk said: “William’s death was a tragic accident, and this first anniversary of his passing is a harrowing reminder of the dangers swimming in open water can pose. In commissioning this video, we hope to make more young people aware that, no matter how tempting, swimming in rivers and other bodies of water can be dangerous.
“We have also installed new GPS signage around the river that make it easier for people to tell emergency services exactly where they are so they can respond as quickly as possible. The GPS signage also includes a life buoy, a throw-line rope and a reminder that people shouldn’t swim in the river.”
