Didim Today

A north-east couple have survived a white-water rafting accident which left one man dead. Martin Farquhar, 35, and his partner Mary were part of a group rafting on the Dalaman River in Turkey when the raft overturned, killing a Welsh man.

Press and Journal reported today the couple, believed to be from Laurencekirk, had been on holiday in Turkey and decided to go white-water rafting with a Welsh couple they had befriended.

A friend of the couple said: “There were eight people in the raft and it overturned. “Martin was apparently thrown into the water, but his partner was trapped underneath. “She managed to break free but the couple’s Welsh friend was killed. “She saw his body float past, covered in blood.

She is in a terrible state.” She was screaming for help when another man jumped into the water and pulled her free, the friend said. “They are both lucky to be alive.” A Foreign Office spokes-woman said the British consulate in Marmaris had been informed of a rafting accident involving eight people on Dalaman River.

“Consular staff are trying to ascertain the number of British nationals involved,” she said.

“We can confirm that one British national has died following a rafting incident. Consular staff are in touch with the family and providing consular assistance. “The local authorities are investigating the incident.”

Mr Farquhar is believed to be coping well but his partner is badly bruised and shaken up. They are thought to still be in Turkey, staying with relatives. The pair have both been given counselling.

The couple both have children and Mary’s 17-year-old daughter is believed to be on holiday separately and unaware that her mother was involved in an accident. Mr Farquhar works as a windscreen fitter for Premier Windscreens in Aberdeen.

A company spokesman said the couple were in their first week of a fortnight’s holiday. Staff were relieved to hear their colleague was okay, he added.

Another colleague said Mr Farquhar was quite adventurous and was “game for anything”. Mearns councillor George Carr said it was a relief to hear that the pair had escaped unharmed.

“A lot of people can take part in adventurous activities abroad and these are things that do happen from time to time,” he said.

Source - PressandJournal