Will Someone with Authority Please Stand Up

[Scunner]

A young British girl aged the same as my own (nine) DIED on a Dalaman river rafting excursion - what will it take to stop more stories of the same tragic end to a day trip?

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/943442/Kids-allowed-on-horror-river-just-weeks-after-tragic-death-of-9-year-old-girl.html

[tribalelder]

Much as I love living here I have to accept that where safety is concerned it is in the Dark Ages:(......just maybe we can help to change that but there are so many areas where do you start[?]

[AndyLin]

Thomsons tell guests at the welcome meetings not to do the rafting or horse riding as it is not safe

[sunnyd]

There are alot of excursions that are not safe, and not covered by holiday insurance. Tour operators have a list of excursions that they do not recommend for insurance and safety purposes.. some horse riding establishments, paragliding, jeep safari, rafting to name a few. They also state the age restrictions too. This argument will always come about, but in my opinion adults, parents should make decisions about the activities that they let their children do! A child aged 9 should never have been rafting end of.

[tinkerman]

I have to agree with Sunnyd, the rafting is no more dangerous than other venture sports but is does need regulating properly in the fact it is not for children, We did it last year and was very happy with the safety precautions taken and good advice given also we did not see any children on our day out.

Stop the children not the sport.

[scouser2swife]

I totally agree with Sunnyd.I have seen time and time again parents letting their children do activities abroad, that they would never allow them to do at home (where there stringent health/safety laws).I know that on holiday we are all more relaxed,but the way I see it when we are abroad we should be more conscious of the dangers.Part of the problem is that these activities are cheaper here, and therefore parents think that they can give the kids a treat that they can't afford at home.But at what cost?

[bewva]

A sad tragedy. Unfortunately while parents will allow their kids on these sorts of activities a lot of the Turkish will take the money and ignore the age restrictions.
Its also wrong to blame the parents as most parents will not have done the activity so are not aware of how dangerous it is until its too late.
In the UK it is the operator of the activity that would be accountable and I feel that that the authorities should regulate them.

[stoop]

Parents must take some responsibility for this. Someone will always take the money if you are prepared to give it so freely.

[Lynn Hurst]

quote:Originally posted by stoop

Parents must take some responsibility for this. Someone will always take the money if you are prepared to give it so freely.

It's called hindsight:( and if only, and why did we:( my sympathy goes to the parents who will be grieving the loss of their precious daughter for the rest of their lives.

[stoop]

Yes Lynne they probably do look back in hindsight and wonder why they took their child on the trip. They have my sympathy as losing a child is a horrible soul destroying experience. However I agree with Nikkie that a 9 year old child should never have been allowed to go on the trip in the first place. The trip organisers share the responsibility but ultimately the parents should have said 'no'.