Young dad-to-be drowned in Scots loch after renting damaged boat with see-through holes

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scots business duo have been fined £10,000 for renting out a damaged boat which led to the death of a 23-year-old father-to-be.

Kieran Cowan tragically died on August 17, 2019, after drowning in Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute. A trial held at Oban Sheriff Court heard how the self-employed joiner and carpenter from Prestonpans, East Lothian, intended to go on a two-day camping trip in the area with friends Kyle Cairney and his brother Nathan.

The trio had made an inquiry to Loch Awe Boats about booking a vessel for August 17-18. But, the day before they were due to rent the boat, joint-owner Clifford Davies emailed Kyle to cancel his booking due to adverse weather conditions.The 64-year-old insisted their “hire licence prohibits boat hire in winds in excess of 18 mph and tomorrow is set to be pretty wild”.Additionally, a Facebook Post from the firm said: “Once again, we are having to cancel boat hire tomorrow (Saturday 17) due to the forecast for very high winds on Loch Awe.

The upper wind speed for boat hire to comply with our hire licence is 18 mph. Sorry to disappoint, but safety is our priority.”Despite the cancellation, the trio decided to travel to Loch Awe that morning.