Christopher Saving Lives Campaign

Scottish Canals have committed to backing a campaign which could see lives saved across the network. We have joined with the founders of the Christopher Saving Lives Campaign, to attach specialised floating ropes to existing lifebelts along the canal, so they can be retrieved if throws are unsuccessful. 

The Christopher Saving Lives Campaign was set up in memory of Christopher Spiers, 28, who drowned after slipping and falling into the river Clyde after a night out in Glasgow in 2016. After Christopher's death his parents’ Margaret and Duncan of Glasgow have dedicated their lives to promoting water safety and awareness of the dangers of outdoors. 

Following a successful meeting with Scottish Canals, the organisation have now purchased ropes which will be positioned along the canal from the lowlands to the highlands over the next two years. 

Duncan said: “We will continue to work with Scottish Canals on water safety. This is a good result all round. We are over the moon that they have taken this up. Our hard work has paid off. Amazing outcome for our son Christopher. “When Christopher drowned due to an accident in the Clyde in 2016, we noticed there were no ropes attached to the lifebelts.

"We then campaigned to get ropes attached. We thought a coloured rope would stand out and took this idea to the Glasgow City Council too who agreed to attach this type of rope to the lifebelts. Ibex Marina rope company make the ropes. 

“They had asked us what colour we wanted in the rope for Christopher and we picked purple. 

“This is a legacy to Christopher and the rope has sleeve on it that says “in memory of Christopher Spiers. 

“We wished this had not happened to him and would like to take his place but we can’t but we can have some comfort in knowing that other families are not going through the same thing.”