Loch Lomond tragedy: Tributes pour in as mum, son and family friend died in water

TRIBUTES are pouring in for the woman, her son and a family friend, who died in Loch Lomond on Saturday (24). Waris Ali, who lost his family and a good friend, revealed how he tried in vain to save his drowning wife.

Edina Olahova, 29, and Rana Haris Ali, 9, lost their lives alongside their family friend Muhammad Asim Riaz, 41, near Pulpit Rock on Saturday evening.

Riaz's seven-year-old son is currently in intensive care at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

"The family is heartbroken at the death of our charming young boy in what was a tragic drowning accident on Saturday. Haris Ali was the loveliest little boy,” a statement on behalf of Rana and Olahova's family, said. 

Waris Ali said his wife, son and family friends, including their children, decided to stop off at the beach on their way back from the Isle of Skye.

Pictures taken hours before the incident show the two families laughing as they posed for the camera near the banks of the loch.

He said they sat on a pier and the youngsters went into the water, thinking it was shallow, but then they "went under".

Seeing the children struggling in water, Olahova and Riaz also went into the water, Ali said. 

"I managed to stay afloat and head towards the shallow water, but when I got out, I saw my wife's hands outside and just her eyes out of the water,” Sky News quoted Ali in a report.

 Ali said a Scottish man also tried but could save only Riaz's son and could not save the other three.

"The three were such lovely people, Asim was my best friend, he was my family. He was more than a friend he was my brother, the three of them would help anyone they could help,” Ali said.

The accident has brought the number of people who have died in Scotland after getting into difficulty in the water to six in just 24 hours.

Speaking about the deaths on Monday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "These are just heart breaking human tragedies.

"Like everyone else across the country my thoughts are with the families of those who are grieving loved ones right now,” she said.