A comprehensive public inquiry into two separate, tragic water-related deaths in Scotland, one of which occurred on the River Tay in Perthshire, is moving forward, with a key Norwegian expert slated to provide crucial testimony. This conjoined Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) aims to meticulously examine the circumstances surrounding the fatalities of a young boy during a river boarding incident and a Fife-based outdoor instructor in a canyoning accident.
The proceedings, scheduled to span ten consecutive days next year, will delve into the details of these deeply regrettable events. A sheriff overseeing the inquiry was informed that efforts to secure a suitable expert within the United Kingdom proved unsuccessful, necessitating the involvement of an international specialist. This expert, Tim Davis from TrollAktiv, an adventure sports consultancy based near Stavanger, Norway, has been commissioned to conduct an in-depth assessment.
Mr. Davis has already undertaken an inspection of the weir on the River Tay, the site of the first tragedy. His schedule includes a visit to Dollar Glen later this month to examine the location of the second incident. Following these inspections, he is tasked with preparing an expert report. This report will offer an informed opinion on best practices within kayaking and river boarding activities, alongside identifying any reasonable precautions that could have been implemented to potentially avert these losses of life. The River Tay Tragedy: Remembering Kayden Walker
The first of the two incidents under scrutiny involves the passing of 12-year-old Kayden Walker. Hailing from Bridgeton, Glasgow, Kayden tragically drowned on July 28, 2019, during a river boarding session on the River Tay, in the picturesque area near Stanley, Perthshire. The young boy, who was not a swimmer, became caught in a dangerous current on the upstream side of a weir, a perilous natural or artificial barrier across a river that can create strong undertows.
Kayden was part of an organised day trip with ten other children from a church charity group, Church House Bridgeton. The incident, where he remained submerged for over three minutes, led to his hospitalisation and subsequent death the following day. This heartbreaking event sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the inherent dangers of certain water activities if not meticulously managed.
In a related development last year, Outdoor Pursuits Scotland Ltd., the company responsible for the activity, received a £10,000 fine. The Glasgow-based firm admitted to serious breaches, specifically failing to conduct an adequate health and safety assessment. This included neglecting to ensure participants were protected from the risk of entrapment and to guarantee a safe passage through the 250-metre weir. At the time, the sum of the penalty drew considerable criticism, with Kayden’s grieving family expressing profound disappointment at what they perceived as an insufficient sanction for such a grave outcome. Dollar Glen Incident: The Loss of Ruaridh Stevenson
The second devastating event concerns the death of Ruaridh Stevenson, a 39-year-old outdoor instructor from Cupar, Fife. Mr. Stevenson lost his life on April 13 last year while attempting to assist a client who encountered difficulties during a canyoning excursion. The incident took place in the turbulent waters flowing through Dollar Glen, an enchanting woodland ravine in Clackmannanshire, situated on the scenic southern slopes of the Ochil Hills, a site popular for outdoor pursuits and within easy reach of parts of Perth and Kinross.
Mr. Stevenson was a director of Adventure Logic Ltd., another company specialising in outdoor pursuits, offering ‘canyoning’ experiences on Scottish rivers. His valiant effort to aid a client underscores the inherent risks and responsibilities involved in leading adventure activities, even for experienced professionals. The Path Ahead for the Conjoined FAI
During a recent preliminary hearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court, depute fiscal Catherine Fraser, representing the Crown, outlined the progress of the upcoming inquiry. She noted that a substantial amount of background information pertaining to both incidents is already agreed upon, and it is not anticipated that the core factual evidence will be contested. This preparatory work aims to streamline the inquiry, allowing it to focus on critical safety aspects and preventative measures.
Sheriff Keith O’Mahony has continued the matter to a further preliminary hearing in November of this year, with the full inquiry officially scheduled to commence on March 16, 2026. While the families of both Kayden Walker and Ruaridh Stevenson are expected to be present, they will not be formal participants in the legal proceedings. However, various other parties will be represented, including Church House Bridgeton (Kayden’s charity group, represented by Barry Smith KC), the National Trust (as the landowners of Dollar Glen), and Phil Robinson (the director of Outdoor Pursuits Scotland Ltd.).
The fundamental objective of a Fatal Accident Inquiry is multifaceted. It seeks to ascertain the precise cause of death and the exact circumstances under which it occurred. Crucially, it also aims to identify what reasonable precautions could have been adopted to mitigate the risk of similar tragedies unfolding in the future. For the communities of Perth and Kinross, and indeed for all involved in outdoor adventure activities across Scotland, this inquiry represents a vital step towards enhancing safety and preventing future heartbreak on our beautiful, yet sometimes unforgiving, waterways.
The proceedings, scheduled to span ten consecutive days next year, will delve into the details of these deeply regrettable events. A sheriff overseeing the inquiry was informed that efforts to secure a suitable expert within the United Kingdom proved unsuccessful, necessitating the involvement of an international specialist. This expert, Tim Davis from TrollAktiv, an adventure sports consultancy based near Stavanger, Norway, has been commissioned to conduct an in-depth assessment.
Mr. Davis has already undertaken an inspection of the weir on the River Tay, the site of the first tragedy. His schedule includes a visit to Dollar Glen later this month to examine the location of the second incident. Following these inspections, he is tasked with preparing an expert report. This report will offer an informed opinion on best practices within kayaking and river boarding activities, alongside identifying any reasonable precautions that could have been implemented to potentially avert these losses of life. The River Tay Tragedy: Remembering Kayden Walker
The first of the two incidents under scrutiny involves the passing of 12-year-old Kayden Walker. Hailing from Bridgeton, Glasgow, Kayden tragically drowned on July 28, 2019, during a river boarding session on the River Tay, in the picturesque area near Stanley, Perthshire. The young boy, who was not a swimmer, became caught in a dangerous current on the upstream side of a weir, a perilous natural or artificial barrier across a river that can create strong undertows.
Kayden was part of an organised day trip with ten other children from a church charity group, Church House Bridgeton. The incident, where he remained submerged for over three minutes, led to his hospitalisation and subsequent death the following day. This heartbreaking event sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the inherent dangers of certain water activities if not meticulously managed.
In a related development last year, Outdoor Pursuits Scotland Ltd., the company responsible for the activity, received a £10,000 fine. The Glasgow-based firm admitted to serious breaches, specifically failing to conduct an adequate health and safety assessment. This included neglecting to ensure participants were protected from the risk of entrapment and to guarantee a safe passage through the 250-metre weir. At the time, the sum of the penalty drew considerable criticism, with Kayden’s grieving family expressing profound disappointment at what they perceived as an insufficient sanction for such a grave outcome. Dollar Glen Incident: The Loss of Ruaridh Stevenson
The second devastating event concerns the death of Ruaridh Stevenson, a 39-year-old outdoor instructor from Cupar, Fife. Mr. Stevenson lost his life on April 13 last year while attempting to assist a client who encountered difficulties during a canyoning excursion. The incident took place in the turbulent waters flowing through Dollar Glen, an enchanting woodland ravine in Clackmannanshire, situated on the scenic southern slopes of the Ochil Hills, a site popular for outdoor pursuits and within easy reach of parts of Perth and Kinross.
Mr. Stevenson was a director of Adventure Logic Ltd., another company specialising in outdoor pursuits, offering ‘canyoning’ experiences on Scottish rivers. His valiant effort to aid a client underscores the inherent risks and responsibilities involved in leading adventure activities, even for experienced professionals. The Path Ahead for the Conjoined FAI
During a recent preliminary hearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court, depute fiscal Catherine Fraser, representing the Crown, outlined the progress of the upcoming inquiry. She noted that a substantial amount of background information pertaining to both incidents is already agreed upon, and it is not anticipated that the core factual evidence will be contested. This preparatory work aims to streamline the inquiry, allowing it to focus on critical safety aspects and preventative measures.
Sheriff Keith O’Mahony has continued the matter to a further preliminary hearing in November of this year, with the full inquiry officially scheduled to commence on March 16, 2026. While the families of both Kayden Walker and Ruaridh Stevenson are expected to be present, they will not be formal participants in the legal proceedings. However, various other parties will be represented, including Church House Bridgeton (Kayden’s charity group, represented by Barry Smith KC), the National Trust (as the landowners of Dollar Glen), and Phil Robinson (the director of Outdoor Pursuits Scotland Ltd.).
The fundamental objective of a Fatal Accident Inquiry is multifaceted. It seeks to ascertain the precise cause of death and the exact circumstances under which it occurred. Crucially, it also aims to identify what reasonable precautions could have been adopted to mitigate the risk of similar tragedies unfolding in the future. For the communities of Perth and Kinross, and indeed for all involved in outdoor adventure activities across Scotland, this inquiry represents a vital step towards enhancing safety and preventing future heartbreak on our beautiful, yet sometimes unforgiving, waterways.