A WOMAN told last night of her desperate battle to try to save a teenager who drowned after going for a swim in a loch at a beauty spot on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Raymond Stewart, 16, got into difficulties shortly after going for a swim with three friends at Dumbrock Loch at Mugdock Country Park, near Milngavie.

Ms Hilary Buchan, who was playing with a friend's dog nearby, ran to the aid of the teenager with her brother after realising he was in trouble. But her attempts to save him failed.

Ms Buchan, 42, who lives in Aberdeen and is a press officer with Grampian Television, was visiting her brother in Bearsden for the weekend.

''I was in the water playing with a friend's dog when I heard the shouts of some teenagers who were about 100 yards away. At first I thought they were play-acting. There didn't appear to be any panic or cries for help.

''However, I soon realised that something was wrong. I dashed out of the water and put my tracksuit and boots on. My brother Graeme and I ran round to the other side of the loch.

''I gave him my mobile phone and told him to phone the emergency services. I stripped off down to my underwear and waded into the water.''

Ms Buchan, who is a strong swimmer, added: ''I couldn't see the boy but had a rough idea where he was. I dived down to try to find him, but the water was very murky and I couldn't see anything.

''The boys kept shouting on me to keep trying, so I kept diving in and searching different areas, but the water was extremely cold and I could feel the current tugging at my body.

''At one point I thought I had spotted him, but it turned out to be a pink bottle. I was forced to come out after about 10 minutes because the current was so strong.''

She added: ''I am so upset that I couldn't get to the laddie. His three friends, who had all been in swimming, were distraught when I came out and realised that I could do nothing to help.''

She said she was surprised there were no warning signs or life jackets near the water.

Last night the boy's parents, Maria, 48, and Robert, 39, were being comforted by friends and relatives at their home in Sandbank Street, Maryhill, Glasgow.

Mrs Stewart, who is pregnant, said she was struggling to cope with news of her son's death. ''My husband has gone to identify the body. I am just too upset to speak to anyone at the moment, but I want to warn other children

about the dangers of playing in water.''

Six members of Central Scotland Police underwater unit were airlifted to the park by helicopter from the force's Stirling headquarters to assist in the search shortly after the alarm was raised.

On reaching the loch, a winchman was lowered but could not reach the boy, whose body could be seen beneath the surface of the water, known locally as Abie Loch.

Police divers were lowered into the water and recovered the teenager at 2.30 p.m, some two hours after the incident.

Central Scotland Police said later in a statement: ''The youth's body was recovered from the water and taken to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow by helicopter. Attempts to revive him continued during the flight and at the hospital but were unsuccessful and he was finally pronounced dead.''

A Central Scotland Police spokesman said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances in connection with the death. A report will be sent to the procurator-fiscal.