Father who ran to water while son was drowning - 'I just heard silence'

The family of a teenager who drowned in a Scottish river earlier this year say they relive his death every time another young person loses their life in open water.

Ben Glen, who was afraid of water and could not swim, died in the River Nith in Dumfries at the end of April - eight days after his 18th birthday.

Since then at least 17 people - 11 of them teenagers - have died in water incidents across the UK during a recent warm spell.

Ian Glen, Ben's father, told BBC Scotland News that every time they hear about another death "we feel what that family are going through".

Now Ian and his wife, Cheryl, want to raise awareness of the dangers of open water and urge young people to think twice before taking unnecessary risks.

Ben's death came less than a month after the couple's wedding and just over a week after they returned from their honeymoon.

By Ian's own admission, in the space of five weeks the family have gone from incredible highs to crushing lows.

Their wedding was an opportunity to bring all their family together - including his five children - to celebrate their love.

"We were on cloud nine... it was just the happiest day ever going," the renal dialysis nurse who lives in Dumfries said.

Two weeks later, after returning from a Mediterranean cruise, they celebrated Ben's 18th birthday with his favourite meal - macaroni cheese and a cup of tea.

On the same day, the teenager started a new job as a cleaner, working alongside his sister, Abigail, 22, which he loved.

Ben was also excited about becoming a father. His partner is expecting a baby in September.

"It was something he was really looking forward to - he couldn't shut up talking about it," Ian, 42, said.

"He was so happy about it completely."

Everything changed on 30 April when Ian got a call telling him that Ben was in the water. He raced to the river.

He walked through Dock Park, where children were playing in the sunshine and people were walking their dogs.

"Then you get to where it's happened and everything just stops," he said.

"It's just surreal. Time freezes and you don't believe it's true."

The emergency services were at the scene of the rescue near Kingholm Road, including Nith Inshore Rescue team.

Ian added: "You would think it's really noisy, but I just heard silence."

Police told him they had recovered Ben's body and were working to save him.

"I have to try and stay strong for [my children] because I kind of tell them like it's fine they're working on him. He's gonna be fine.

"But the nurse in me probably thought no, he won't be."

Police told the family that Ben entered the water to retrieve a dog's ball. He had been walking along the river's edge with his partner and her family.

They had entered the water to try to help him but were pulled to safety by a passer-by. Ben was in the water for 45 minutes.

For Ian and his family there are a lot of unanswered questions.

Ben never learned to swim because he was so afraid of water. On holiday in Benidrom last October, he wore armbands in the swimming pool.

"We know he's 18, a young lad, and they do silly things. Everyone's been that age," Ian said.

"But to put yourself in that danger - I don't understand... and we just need the answers for it."

Police Scotland has said it is not treating Ben's death as suspicious. A report has been submitted to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).

A COPFS spokesperson said: "An investigation into the death is ongoing and significant developments will be shared with the family of Benjamin Glen throughout the investigation."

Since then, the family have learned of the deaths of more young people in rivers and lakes across the UK.

"They all seem to be avoidable deaths," Ian said.

The family want to share their experience so others are aware of the dangers of open water.

"We don't want any family going through what we're going through at all - it's the worst thing in your life that could ever happen," he said.

"We don't want other families to have to grieve their children."

Jane Dickerson, who works with Port William Inshore Rescue in Dumfries and Galloway said the recent spate of fatal water incidents was "absolutely heartbreaking".

"You feel so much for the families, for their friends and also for the people that have had to rescue them and deal with them and it makes you want to get that message out even more," she added.

She said before getting in the water:

• Stop and think
• If it's a coastal area, what is the tide doing?
• Are you aware of any currents?
• What is the wind situation?
• Stick with your friends and don't leave anybody on their own

If things do go wrong, she said "try and remain calm" and "float to live".

"Lay back, put your ears in the water to help you float and just calm yourself down.''

She said that anyone who sees someone in difficulty should not enter the water themselves and potentially become a second casualty.

"If there is anything around, a throw line or a life ring or anything like that or any object that you can use, get that to that person that's in the water but try and remain calm yourself so that you keep the person in the water calm and then just wait until the emergency services get to you."