Churches in Argyll say prayers for the two toddlers who died in Oban loch crash

Leia and Seth McCorrisken, who have been named as the brother and sister who died when the car they were travelling in plunged into a remote Scottish loch (Police Scotland/PA)

PRAYERS were being said at churches throughout Argyll today for the family of two toddlers who died when a car plunged into a loch.

Leia McCorrisken, three, and her bother Seth, two, died in the tragic accident on Wednesday, when their mother’s car left the A816, north of Kilmelford village.

The children’s mother, Hazel, 36, managed to escape from the vehicle, which ended up submerged in 40ft of water in Loch Nan Druimean.

She was taken to Oban, Lorn and Islands Hospital for a precautionary check-up and was later released.

The family had moved to the Isle of Luing within the last 18 months, where the children’s father, Neil McCorrisken runs his own business.

As the close-knit communities of Luing and Kilmelford struggle to come to terms with the accident a church leader said prayers would be said throughout Argyll for the family today.

Marilyn Shedden, Moderator of the Church of Scotland’s Argyll Presbytery, said: “We have a presbytery prayer that goes out every week and all the churches in Argyll will be praying for the family.

“Our thoughts go out to the family, to the communities, the school and the local minister – it’s an awful situation, our hearts just go out to them all.”

Ms Shedden said it was hoped the love surrounding the family, and those close to them, would help them at this difficult time and added: “People will open their hearts to them and they will know they are held in love and prayer, they will know there is a lot of support for them.

“People know when people are thinking about them and love and prayer does help.”

Floral tributes have been placed at the roadside near the scene of the accident and Kilmelford & Kilninver Community Council treasurer Stuart Cannon said: “We are deeply saddened by this really tragic accident and our hearts and thoughts go out to the lady in question and her family.”

The road is unfenced at the point where the car entered the water and local residents are calling for a safety barrier to be erected.

Councillor Roddy McCuish, chairman of Argyll & Bute Council’s Oban, Lorn & the Isles Area Committee, said: “I would expect, after such a tragic accident, our council officers will be alerted to see if there are any safety issues we can improve on that piece of road, but I have never known an accident at that spot.”

Breaking: Two-year old twins drown in Fife