Company fined over boy’s death after River Tay boogie board accident

An investigation by Perth and Kinross Council found Outdoor Pursuits had insufficient health and safety precautions in place prior to the incident.

They said their risk assessment for river boarding did not have adequate control measures in place.

An additional probe by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) heard evidence from a water activities expert.

They recommended the company should have had one instructor directly below the weir and one in a kayak directly above until all of the group had passed over it.

Debbie Carroll, COPFS lead for health and safety investigations, said the firm’s failures had resulted in “devastating consequences”.

She added: “Kayden Walker was a happy, friendly, and much-loved child who enjoyed helping younger children within his church group.

“His tragic death could have been prevented had the company ensured a safe system of work was in place to allow participants to safely negotiate the weir.

“This should serve as a warning to others who run outdoor and water activity business. A failure to manage the risk in such ventures can have devastating consequences.”