Canoe tragedy father and son named

A father and son who drowned in a canoe accident on a Highland loch were named by police today.

Michael Madders and his seven year-old son Daniel died in the accident on Loch Maree in Wester Ross yesterday.

They were reported missing by his partner and the child's mother, who found their overturned canoe on the shore of the loch.

She had become concerned when they failed to return from a planned 20-minute outing in the Tollie Bay area.

After a major hunt by Northern Constabulary, the pair, who were both wearing lifejackets, were found by a coastguard helicopter.

They were airlifted to the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway where they were pronounced dead.

Mr Madders, 52, lived with his family in Bridgeview, Poolewe, Ross-shire, close to Loch Maree.

A Northern Constabulary Spokesman said Mr Madders's partner will not be making a statement about the deaths.

She has asked "that the media allow her to grieve in peace and respect her privacy".