logo
Wild swimmer, 68, dies after water tragedy off Scots island as air ambulance called to scene

Wild swimmer, 68, dies after water tragedy off Scots island as air ambulance called to scene

Scottish Suna day ago

TRAGIC INCIDENT Wild swimmer, 68, dies after water tragedy off Scots island as air ambulance called to scene
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A MAN has died after getting into trouble while wild swimming on the Isle of Bute.
Mercy crews were called to the 68-year-old's aid while he was in the water near the village of Kilchattan Bay last night.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
A wild swimmer has died after the tragic incident at Kilchattan Bay on the Isle of Bute
Credit: Getty
He was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he tragically died.
His death is currently being treated as unexplained by cops.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 8.10pm on Thursday 19th June 2025, we were called to a report of concern for a man who had been wild swimming at Kilchattan Bay on the Isle of Bute.
'Emergency services attended and the 68-year-old was taken by air ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
'The death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries are ongoing.'
More to follow...
For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun.
Thescottishsun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thescottishsun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Woman, 44, dies after stabbing inside shop as man, 47, arrested on suspicion of murder
Woman, 44, dies after stabbing inside shop as man, 47, arrested on suspicion of murder

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Woman, 44, dies after stabbing inside shop as man, 47, arrested on suspicion of murder

KNIFE HORROR Woman, 44, dies after stabbing inside shop as man, 47, arrested on suspicion of murder Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOMAN has been stabbed to death inside a shop in broad daylight as cops arrest a man, 47, on suspicion of murder. Police were called to Stanley Road, in Bootle, Merseyside, on Friday evening at just after 5pm. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Emergency services responded to reports of a 44-year-old woman being knifed in the torso. Officers arrested a 47-year-old man, from Widnes, on suspicion of attempted murder. He was re-arrested on suspicion of murder after the victim died later in hospital. Merseyside Police Det Insp Gavin Mulcahy said: "It is desperately sad that a woman lost her life earlier today as a result of this incident. "Our thoughts first and foremost are with her family, who are now left to grieve her loss in the most tragic of circumstances. They will be fully supported by specialist officers in the coming days and weeks." Det Insp Mulchahy added: "We are in the very early stages of our investigation but this is currently being treated as a domestic assault in which the suspect and victim knew each other, and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it." Anyone with information, or may who been in the area at the time, has been urged to come forward. 1 Police were called to Stanley Road, in Bootle, Merseyside, on Friday evening at just after 5pm More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

Fine warning for taking seashells and pebbles from beaches
Fine warning for taking seashells and pebbles from beaches

Leader Live

timean hour ago

  • Leader Live

Fine warning for taking seashells and pebbles from beaches

However, beachgoers are being warned they could be breaking the law without even realising it, and fines may be on the way. Under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, the removal of any natural material such as shells, sand and pebbles from public beaches in the UK is illegal. Previously, a tourist who had holidayed near Crackington Haven beach, Cornwall was forced to drive hundreds of miles back to the popular holiday spot in order to return some pebbles he had taken from the beach. Removing pebbles and other natural matter from the coast is in fact damaging to the environment. (Image: Getty/Spooh) Additionally, in 2018, the Metro reported on a group of thieves who were described by the paper as 'grain gangs'. They would use JCB diggers to take large quantities of sand from Hemsby beach in Norfolk, in order to sell it on to builders. Meanwhile over in Devon, council gardeners were forced to microchip public plants after suffering a 'severe' amount of thefts in the area. Andrew Ward, ecological consultant at ecology and biodiversity consultancy firm Arbtech, told the BBC: 'What may seem like a harmless holiday keepsake is, in fact, part of a delicate and vital ecosystem—and could even cost you a fine of up to £1,000. 'One person taking a pebble may not seem like much, but when thousands of people do the same thing every summer, the consequences add up. 'The law isn't there to spoil anyone's fun—it's a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our environment. 'By leaving the beach just as we found it, we help ensure it remains a thriving habitat for generations to come.' Bans on seemingly harmless acts can be enforced by local councils, and can see offenders fined up to £1,000 as a penalty. Yet while it may seem perfectly harmless, removing pebbles and other natural matter from the coast is in fact damaging to the environment. As suggested by the name of the Act, and as stated in the introduction of the Act, taking natural material from a beach in the UK is illegal, in order to protect Britain's beaches 'against erosion and encroachment by the sea'. Pebbles and other natural matter act as a natural sea defence against coastal erosion, which many experts warn has become even more of an issue due to climate change.

Taxi drivers buying cars in one city due to 'easy' regulations putting people
Taxi drivers buying cars in one city due to 'easy' regulations putting people

Daily Mirror

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Taxi drivers buying cars in one city due to 'easy' regulations putting people

Drivers are flogging cars including black cabs on social media with licences already attached from Wolverhampton where it's believed that the rules to obtain a taxi licence are far more easier than other areas Motorists are flocking to social media to snap up vehicles, including black cabs, already registered in the West Midlands city of Wolverhampton, where it's perceived that licensing requirements are more lenient than elsewhere. There are now grave worries that some taxi drivers could be skirting stringent safeguarding checks, particularly in areas previously rocked by child sexual exploitation scandals, according to The Times. ‌ The newspaper initially brought the issue to light back in 2018, revealing that Wolverhampton had become the go-to authority for drivers across England seeking to secure a minicab licence. ‌ And the problem is only escalating. Data from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority reveals that, as of this year, over one in 10 taxi licences in England were issued by Wolverhampton council. Baroness Casey of Blackstock recently highlighted the loopholes allowing private-hire drivers to operate anywhere across the UK as a significant safeguarding risk for youngsters, reports the Express. Has the government agreed new taxi rules? Ministers have agreed to all 12 of her suggestions and vowed to act "at pace" to put an end to this practice. However, campaigners argue that the government needs to do more, demanding stricter licensing checks nationwide. While drivers must pass checks - including a DBS background check - regardless of where they are licensed, some local councils impose much higher standards than others. Rotherham, scarred by the harrowing revelations of the 2014 Jay report which uncovered the grooming of 1,400 girls, often via taxis, has since clamped down with stringent taxi licensing rules. ‌ The borough council's response included making CCTV compulsory in all cabs, setting a clear definition for what makes a "fit and proper person," and requiring a perfect score on a safeguarding test for licence applicants. However, these robust measures are being undermined by a law passed in 2015 under David Cameron's leadership, allowing private hire drivers to operate nationwide, irrespective of where they got their licence. How many taxi drivers are licenced from other areas? Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham has raised the alarm that nearly half the private hire drivers in his jurisdiction hold licences from other areas. ‌ Investigations by the Manchester Evening News last year revealed a staggering 8,952 drivers in the region were licensed by Wolverhampton council, located some 80 miles away, accounting for 35 per cent of its private hire fleet. In a similar vein, the Liverpool Echo disclosed that in 2024, Wolverhampton issued close to 500 licences to drivers residing in Liverpool postcodes. A Facebook advert for a Prius highlighted the issue, with the seller noting: "People like the council in Wolverhampton - it's easier to get a badge. The test there is easy. In Manchester, it's very hard. That's why people go to Wolverhampton." ‌ How much does a taxi licence cost? The cost of a taxi licence varies dramatically across councils, with Rotherham charging £210 for a one-year licence while Wolverhampton charges a mere £49. Social media is rife with cars being sold complete with a Wolverhampton taxi licence, though new owners must still secure a personal licence from the council to drive them legally. This week, Casey issued a stark warning that despite most taxi drivers being law-abiding, "as a key part of the night-time economy, taxis have historically been identified as a way children can be at risk of sexual exploitation." ‌ She further stated: "Local authorities issue taxi licences in line with statutory guidance as a means of combating child sexual exploitation, but they are being hindered by a lack of stringency in other local authorities and legal loopholes which mean drivers can apply for a licence anywhere in the country." What does Wolverhampton say about taxi licences? Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the City of Wolverhampton council emphasised that safeguarding is their "number one priority in taxi licensing," proudly noting that it is "the only local authority which checks drivers on the Update Service DBS status every day." She explained: "It is illegal for the council to refuse applicants a taxi licence on the basis of where they live. Under the current law, applicants are able to apply to any licensing authority for a licence. It is also illegal for licensing authorities to impose a limit on the number of private hire licences they issue. The council does not gain financially from taxi licensing, as the fees are legally ringfenced for spend only on related activities. "Our early adoption of digital technology has allowed us to offer a simple and efficient online application procedure, with the requirement that drivers attend in person for training and strict assessment before an application can be processed." The Department for Transport was reached out for a response.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store