Funeral held for canoe death girl (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Funeral held for canoe death girl

12:58pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Hundreds of mourners have gathered for the funeral of a young schoolgirl who died after a canoeing accident which claimed the lives of three children and devastated their communities.

Five-year-old Grace Mackay died after the six-man boat capsized in Loch Gairloch, Wester Ross, in the Scottish Highlands, on Sunday August 26.

The primary two pupil from Muir of Ord, near Inverness, was plucked from the water by rescuers but lost her fight for life the next day in hospital.

Brothers Jamie Beaton, two, and Ewen, five, also died after the canoe overturned in the sea loch in apparently calm weather. The body of the boys' 32-year-old father, also Ewen, from Beauly near Inverness, has yet to be found, despite extensive police and coastguard searches.

Grace's father and her eight-year-old sister Callie survived after managing to swim to the shore.

Hundreds of people packed into East Church, Muir of Ord to pay their respects to Grace who has been described by her family as a "beautiful angel".

The hearse arrived at the church in Seaforth Road at around 11.45am and the coffin was taken inside as mourners began to enter the church. The car carried a floral tribute, "Grace", written in purple and white blooms.

Several pink wreaths and bouquets were laid outside the door of the church. One mourner arrived with a pink, heart-shaped helium balloon which was placed outside the church alongside the flowers.

Mourners sang Amazing Grace and He's Got The Whole World In His Hands during the service, which was conducted by Rev Scott Polworth.

Afterwards, mother Wendy, father Garry and sister Callie looked on as the white coffin was placed in the hearse to the sound of a piper, who later led the cortege from the church.