A tragic Angus angler may have survived if clifftop rescue lifelines were permitted, it has been claimed.
Fresh calls have been made for safety fencing and emergency lines at Seaton Cliffs in Arbroath, following the death of local man Brian Harvey (49) on Sunday.
Angus Council has previously come out against providing the lines on the recommendations of coastguard and the RNLI, who fear people could be pulled in when attempting a rescue.
Mr Harvey’s friends, Ronnie Coates and Davie Hannah, resorted to throwing bags and fishing tackle into the sea in a bid to reach him after he was washed off the rocks by a huge wave.
They could then do nothing but hope the emergency services would save the angler, but he died despite persistent attempts to revive him.
Following the accident, the council has pledged to act upon any additional safety recommendations that may come from the police investigation into the incident.
Kevin Barthorpe, of Arbroath Community Council, has led a campaign for lifebelts and rope lines along the cliffs since his daughter Nicole (11) died there in 2003. She fell to her death after slipping into a tidal crevasse near the Needle’s E’e, a short distance from Deil’s Heid, where Mr Harvey drowned.
Arbroath mother Sharon Law, whose teenage son Stephen Lorente had a lucky escape after scaling the 40ft cliffs to retrieve a football, backed Mr Barthorpe’s calls.
She said better safety measures could potentially avert another tragedy at the cliffs but also urged people using the area to be aware of the dangers posed by the sea.
She added: ”If they had lifelines there or even fenced the area off then it would save lives. I know the council would have to pay to upgrade it but you can’t put a cost on a life.”
Mr Barthorpe argued that other sites like the River Tay and the sea wall at Arbroath benefit from the equipment and claimed it could make a difference at the cliffs.
An Angus Council spokeswoman said: ”Angus Council will await the findings of the police investigation, and any appropriate additional safety recommendations will be acted upon, in partnership with the coastguard service and RNLI.”
Staff at Arbroath Infirmary paid tribute to Mr Harvey, who worked there as a healthcare assistant for many years.
Senior charge nurse Sheila Pudney said: ”The tragedy of Brian’s untimely death has left all staff in the medical wards at Arbroath Infirmary deeply saddened.
”He was a very dear colleague and friend, and will be missed by all.”