Tributes to ‘one in a million’ dad who died after falling through icy pond while trying to rescue dog
HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a dad who died after falling through an icy curling pond while trying to rescue his dog.
Iain Morrell passed away after plunging into the freezing waters of the pond in the grounds of Kinneil House in Bo’ness, near Falkirk, Scotland, on Friday.
Emergency services, including a special operations ambulance team and helicopter, were scrambled to the pond.
Iain was recovered from the water by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, but sadly passed away.
Police confirmed enquiries are ongoing into the circumstances of his death.
Iain’s dog Simba was rescued and the animal was left in the care of the SSPCA.
Hi daughter Alana took to social media to express her pain at the loss of her “one in a million” dad.
In an emotional Facebook post, she said: “Words can’t describe what I’m about to say… as most of you all know my dad, Iain Morrell sadly passed away and did not survive the accident.
“He was a popular and loved by many man, he was 1 in a million and completely irreplaceable. I’d just like to say…To the emergency services, there is no words to say how grateful or how to even thank you for working so hard and trying your absolute best to save my dad.
“I will forever be thanking you all. Thank you to the police for dealing with this in such an amazing manner along with the nurses and paramedic staff at Edinburgh Royal Infirmity everyone went above and beyond just doing their job for us yesterday.
“To my best friend. Dad, you were ONE IN A MILLION. You would have done anything for anyone, the strongest man I’ve ever met. I’ll forever be your wain and my life will never be the same without you in it.
“I hope you can be with me throughout my next milestones and know how much I want you there but just not in the way that I hoped. I hope I make you proud and I wish I could have had one last chance to thank you for everything throughout these past 20 years (which weren’t enough) your memories, the songs you made up about me when I was little.
“The one in a lifetime holidays you’ve taken me on and for driving me 5+ hours to figure skating competitions. Never leaving the side of the rink. 20 years of memories to last a lifetime.
“If I could reverse back to when we used to sing our song in the car on the way to school or to the weekends you took me swimming and we got a blue slush or banana milkshake from MacDonalds. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. There’s not enough pages in a book to write everything.
“You will never truly understand how much I appreciate everything you have ever done for me and how I wish this was different. You made me the person I am today by showing me to never give up and always do my best.
“I am truly heartbroken that I’ll never hear your voice again or have anyone to reassure me through my worries and troubles or rescue me at 4am. I still hope that you will come through that door and scream “MAAAA WAIN”. I’d do anything in this world for that to happen and I’d never let you go again.
“No one in this whole entire universe had a dad better than mine. He gave me everything and more. He went above and beyond for me and he was the best anyone could have asked for, a great role model, an inspiration which I hope lives within me now.
“It’s going to be a long time until we meet again but I hope you’re having a ball, you deserve the world. One last HUGE THANK YOU in which I’ll be thanking you for the rest of my life… for risking your life saving Simba.
“I know how much you loved him and I truly hope a part of you lives within him as you loved him with all your heart, just as much as I do.This isn’t goodbye, I’ll see you some day again. Love your No.1 fan forever and always.”
Alana’s post attracted hundreds of comments as loved ones shared their tributes to Iain.
One said: “Your Dad was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. A truly wonderful man who I was happy to know, so sorry to hear of him passing and love to you and your family.”
While another commented: “Such sad news Alana and family! He was a gentleman and would have done anything to help anyone. Sorry for your loss.”
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A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 12.45pm on Friday, 12 February, 2021, police received report of a man and a dog in the water at the Curling Pond, Kinneil Woods, Bo’ness.
“The man was recovered from the water by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and taken by helimed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he later died. The dog was recovered from the water and left in the care of the SSPCA.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”