TRIBUTES have been paid to a Scot who died in a white water rafting accident as he holidayed in Canada.

Andy Barrie, 50, from Balloch, near Loch Lomond, died when his raft overturned on the Kettle River, British Columbia.

He was swept away by the current and dragged over a waterfall.

His son Andy, 16, was able to swim to safety. The teenager then ran alongside the riverbank, but was unable to reach his father, who was pulled under the water. Mr Barrie was not thought to have been wearing a lifebelt.

His body has not been found, but the Royal Canadian Mounted Police say there is now no hope of him being found alive.

Two other people in the raft, his friends Ron and Jacqueline Legare, also died in the accident.

Mr Barrie's wife Carol, 50, who raised the alarm, and her son are still in Canada, where they are being supported by foreign office staff.

Alan Clark, manager of Mr Barrie's local pub, The Doghouse in Balloch, said friends were stunned when they heard of the death.

Mr Clark said: "His wife phoned to tell a few of his friends and the news has gone round. The guys that knew him really well have been in and out of here today. They are just stunned.

"Andy used to come in and have a laugh and talk about anything. He was a really great guy."

Neighbour Martha Stewart said: "They are such a lovely family. It's awful. "

The family were taking a break in Canada instead of their usual holiday spot in Florida, where they own two homes, which they put up for rent for much of the year.

According to reports, Mr Barrie and his son were 'tubing' – sitting in an inflatable raft made up of an inner tube, a dinghy and an inflatable mattress – with 13 other people on the river.

They had travelled about five miles along mild waters when they suddenly rounded a curve and were swept into a canyon by the strong current and high waters, which had been swollen by recent rains.

The fast flowing waters pulled them past the normal exit point on the river and over a waterfall.

Grace McGregor, a local official, said: "The water just got faster, sooner. It just got rough and they were thrown overboard. It was hard for them to get out."