Excerpt from
The Scotsman
Father dies in rescue attempt
A SCOTTISH couple drowned on holiday in front of their two young children after a small plastic dinghy capsized in rough seas off the western coast of Cyprus yesterday.
Peter Rainey, 49, a Falklands war veteran and North Sea helicopter pilot, died as he tried in vain to rescue his wife, Alison, 41, after the inflatable she was paddling tipped over 100 metres from the shore at Peyia, a popular resort near Paphos.
The couple’s son, Callum, 9, who was also in the dinghy, was swept to safety and was revived by tourists on the beach.
It is understood the incident began shortly before midday yesterday when Ms Rainey and her son left the beach, apparently to head for a small island offshore from the Cypriot resort.
According to eye witnesses, Mr Rainey ran into the sea after he spotted the dinghy capsizing and his wife and son frantically waving for help in the choppy water. But although he managed to get to the pair and push the inflatable upright before dragging his family back on board, the dinghy is understood to have capsized for a second time.
The couple’s seven-year-old daughter, Catriona, witnessed the drowning from the shore in the care of family friends who had joined the Raineys on the holiday.
Canadian-born Mr Rainey married Alison, an electro-optics engineer, at a family ceremony in St Catherine’s Catholic Church, in Edinburgh, on 1 July, 1989.
A night-flying expert and helicopter test-pilot and instructor, Mr Rainey trained flyers in the use of night-vision goggles.
Last night, the Rev John Purves, the minister of Dollar Parish Church, said the family were committed Christians and regular churchgoers. "Everyone is devastated at this very, very sad news. Peter and Alison were very physically fit. They enjoyed outdoor pursuits and they were very keen cyclists. It’s almost too difficult to take in," he said.
Full report
here.