THE tragic deaths of four people in Loch Lomond in the space of one weekend have sparked emotional pleas from one heartbroken family not to take the water for granted.

Connor Markward, 16, drowned in the loch near Balloch Country Park on Friday night.

And on Saturday evening, Edina Olahova, 29, her son Rana Haris Ali, nine, and their friend Muhammad Asim Riaz, 41, lost their lives after getting into difficulty near Pulpit Rock.

The two incidents led to the weekend being described as “one of the worst in the national park’s history”.

In addition to the four Loch Lomond deaths, two boys, one aged 11 and another aged 13, drowned in separate incidents in Lanarkshire.

For one Vale of Leven family, the weekend’s tragic events brought back memories of their own heartbreaking loss nearly a year ago.

Ava Gray, from Alexandria, got into difficulty on the River Leven near Balloch Bridge last August.

While two other youngsters were able to make it back to the shore, Ava’s body was recovered after a three-hour search by the emergency services.

The 12-year-old’s aunt Jamie Gillies is now working with her sister Leanne Rae to warn the public about the danger of swimming in open waters.

Describing the family’s reaction to the weekend’s devastating news, Jamie told the Reporter: “My sister was in tears.

“I think every time we hear about this it just takes us back to that night.

"You are reliving it over again.

"Immediately you think about the family that is receiving that news and what they must be going through.

“Behind it, there is anger that despite all the messages, and the correspondence with the council, and the empty promises, nothing actually changed.

“What’s the value of a child’s life? What’s the cost?

"They can’t find money to install life rings, ropes, get a ranger in the park or even a patrol on the loch.

"It is not good enough.”

Jamie and her family believe that Ava’s life could have been saved if there were the easily accessible life-saving equipment at hand.

She said: “I will never forget that day, ever.

"It was honestly the worst three hours we have ever gone through.

“We stood there waiting because that is all we could do.

"I would never wish for another family to go through that.

“Ava went into the water right beside a life ring that was tied behind a locked gate.

"It would have saved her life, I have no doubt about that.

“To think Ava went out that day was having fun with her friends and didn’t come home.

"I still can’t believe that it happened.

“She went into a shallow area to paddle and took a step too far.”

The family want to send out a loud and clear message to parents in Dumbarton and the Vale who are planning to visit the country’s coasts and lochs.

“Please don’t think it will never happen to you because we never thought it would happen to us,” said Jamie. “Speak to your children. A step too far is all it takes.

“I know there has been a ramp up in education, but kids, they don’t listen.

"We’re adults, and we don’t know what we are talking about, and they know much better than us.

"They are always going to take risks. They’re out to have fun.

"We all just want to make it safer.”

Jamie and Leanne have recently launched an online fund-raiser to help buy life-saving equipment for the waters.

Jamie has also started her own online petition to highlight this issue nationally, attracting almost 1,600 signatures as the Reporter went to press on Monday afternoon.

She has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in the hope of bringing about change.

Ava’s family are also planning to complete a sponsored protest on the first anniversary of the young girl’s death to warn others about the dangers of wild swimming.

“People that go out without life jackets are taking a massive risk,” said Jamie.

"“The information is there, but it is finding a way to hit home.

“Swimming lessons are great but in open water you could be the strongest swimmer ever and it wouldn’t make a difference.

“If there are strong currents, there swimming lessons won’t stop these things from happening.

“I feel there needs to be more.

“It is not even my hurt. It is Ava’s. You think of the fear she had to go through.

"I can’t believe she had to go through that.”

Ava’s friends and family gathered six days after the tragedy to release balloons and put on a display of dance in her memory.

In the future Jamie hopes to create a memorial in Balloch Park as a place for grieving families and friends of the victims.

The 36-year-old added: “We have been thinking about creating a memorial in Balloch Park with names of the people that have passed away.

“Someone suggested to us that the entrance of the park having a sign that shows you the loch and where the deep areas are to try and show people where the safe areas are.

“Every time we hear it has happened again especially to a child we think something needs to change here.

“When we hear about a rescue it gives us that motivation to get that message across to families.

“If people stay quiet, nothing gets done.

"Nothing will change if we don’t speak about this.

“If we can prevent one other family going through the pain we are going through, then it’s worth it.

“How many kids need to die?

"What is the number we need to get to before anything changes?”

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams, of Police Scotland, said the number of deaths that had taken place in open waters over Friday and Saturday was “hard to comprehend”.

He said: “The warm weather can make open water swimming and paddling very inviting but it is extremely dangerous, even for the most experienced swimmers.

“The conditions can change very quickly and there are often hidden risks like deeper water and strong currents.

“The message I want to send to everyone is exercise extreme caution.

"It is better to keep a safe distance from water if possible.

“Tragically, this weekend has highlighted that open water is very, very dangerous.

“If you see someone in the water and distressed, call 999 immediately.

“Remember, you could get into difficulty yourself trying to help so please take care and seek help as soon as possible.”

Sign the petition at change.org/p/scottish-government -make-scottish-waters-safer.