Missing boy's life jacket found

The search for Kevin was called off

A 15-year-old boy who went missing when a boat capsized did not appear to have been wearing a life jacket, it has emerged.

Steven Ridley's father Shaun, 37, and younger brother Michael, 12, died in the accident on Loch Ryan in south west Scotland on Saturday afternoon.

Steven's grandfather Brian, 61, and family friend Harvey Haughton, 58, survived.

A search for the missing boy, from Westleigh, Greater Manchester, was called off after rescuers said there was little chance of finding him alive.

They could have been swamped by their own wake if they stopped quickly Stuart Atkinson Clyde coastguard

Stuart Atkinson, a duty watch manager with Clyde coastguard, said the investigation into the cause of the tragedy was under way.

However, some facts about the motor boat capsize were coming to light.

He said: "It is now known that the missing boy, Steven Ridley, had no life jacket on because the life jacket that was on board for him was found with his father, who was sadly deceased.

"Obviously I don't know in this case if they were wearing their life jackets or not, it is a possibility that Steven actually slipped out of his life jacket.

"But the coastguard would always advise that people who are making a passage should wear their life jackets at all times."

Mr Atkinson said accident investigators would be looking at a variety of factors in trying to establish what happened to the fishing boat party.

He said: "There's numerous possible causes. They could have been swamped by their own wake if they stopped quickly.

'Large vessel'

"It is believed the sea around the entrance to Loch Ryan did become quite choppy because of the wind over tide.

"I think we have to wait until the main accident investigation branch make their recommendations about this actual incident."

Mr Atkinson said he would not speculate on the wake from fast Irish Sea ferries using the loch being a factor.

He said: "The ferries do slow down as they enter Loch Ryan to minimise the wake to any passing vessels and they do keep a proper lookout as they come in.

"A ship or a ferry itself would have tried to minimise any wake but any large vessel which is making passage does cause some sort of wake."

He appealed to people using Scotland's water and seaways to take precautions to ensure they had a safe journey.

Weather and sea conditions should be checked and life-saving equipment kept on board.