THE mother of a man who drowned abroad has extended a hand to families of victims of the Tunisian beach attack.

Julie Love, from Maryhill, said she understood the “absolute torture” loved ones of the people who died in last Friday’s massacre were going through.

The former Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year finalist is a co-founder of charity, DAYNA - Death Abroad You Are Not Alone - which she set up following the death of son Colin, 23, in a swimming accident in Venezuela six years ago.

Julie, 47, said: “My heart goes out to every one of these families and the people who witnessed it as well.

“From the other trustees of DAYNA as well, we’re all horrified and if there’s anything we can do now or in the future at all we’ll go all out to do it.”

Julie said families affected by the shooting must be part of the investigation and given as much information as possible.

She said: “I think the most important thing is just getting information back to families.

“I know the family from Perth only found out on Tuesday - that’s four days.

“Just to have them waiting so long, it’s just horrendous.

“I suppose the most crucial thing at this stage is keeping the families informed. The next thing they’ll be looking at repatriation and I don’t know how it goes in Tunisia - what the normal processes are.”

Julie said the families needed to have their voices heard.

She added: “I know there’s been complaints about the Foreign Office not returning calls - things like that - and they really need to be heard. They’ve got to be part of any inquiry or investigation.

“A lot of families, myself included, no matter how horrific it’s been, how horrific the death is, they need to hear about the person’s last moments - what they were doing.

“I think for any family that’s just an important part of the grieving process."

Julie said affected families should also come together.

She said: “It’s never happened in Scotland before, it’s a new thing for us but I think certainly what most of the families we support need is peer support.

“I would definitely advocate that it would be worthwhile for them to get in touch with other families who have been involved in that kind of massacre.

“I don’t know if it’s something DAYNA could arrange in the future, or Victim Support or Police Scotland - just getting these families together.

“Some people who were there as well who witnessed it, it’s the trauma they’re going through.”

A more coordinated approach is needed in tragic situations like this, Julie added.

She said airports should provide ‘VIP’ assistance to families coming back and the services of airport chaplains could be offered when the body is being returned home.

Julie added: "This is something DAYNA is campaigning for."