Sympathy for child's parents

MANY boaters have contacted us showing their sympathy for the parents of the two years old boy who drowned in the reeds of the Northampton Arm earlier this week.

But in addition to this there are those who are worried that boaters may again face a plethora of more fencing, with James Henry telling: 'I hope that there is not going to be another gut reaction of safety measures making it harder for boaters', but I feel for the boy's parents who must be going through hell'.

Corporate manslaughter charge

'My sympathy to this young boy's family', offered Kevin McNiff, but added what many boaters must agree with: 'This is tragic news but can we now assume that Canal & River Trust will face another corporate manslaughter charge under Health & Safety for not clearing vegetation? After all, we have all been banging on about emergency access for boaters'.

Another boater, Helen Spinkwater, asks: 'I wonder if the little boy's parents know about the £5,000 to be spent on more reeds on the Droitwich Canal, that is crammed with them already, waiting for some unsuspecting toddler? It is about time that Cart realised just where the danger lies, and did what the National Association of Boat Owners have been pressing for for many years—clearing the vegetation from the side of the waterways so the little chaps can see the danger. My deepest sympathy for the family at their terrible loss'.

Victor

And from Victor: 'I know I tell about people taking responsibility for their own safety, but a two years old child can have no idea of danger and can in no way be responsible, but having cruised numerous times on the Northampton Arm, and battled with the reeds, I think we know who is responsible in this case for causing what must be heartbreak for the child's parents, who have my sympathy for their tragic loss'.