A MAN, woman and child have died and a seven-year-old boy is fighting for his life after getting into difficulty in Loch Lomond.

Police Scotland said they were called to a report of concerns for people in the water near Pulpit Rock, Loch Lomond, south of Ardlui, on Saturday evening.

A 41-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman and a nine-year-old boy were pronounced dead at the scene.

The seven-year-old boy was rushed by ambulance to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, where he is currently in intensive care A Police Scotland statement said it received the call at about 6.40pm on Saturday.

It added: "A multi-agency operation took place and sadly three people were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Formal identification has still to take place but the family of a 41-year-old man, 29-year-old woman and nine-year-old boy have been made aware."

READ MORE: Young boy dies after getting into difficulty in water at Scots park

A report into the incident will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

It brings the number of people who have died in Scotland after getting into difficulty in the water to five in just 24 hours.

An 11-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene after being found in the river at Alexander Hamilton Memorial Park in Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire, on Saturday afternoon.

A 16-year-old boy died in the water at Balloch Country Park, at the south end of Loch Lomond, on Friday.

The incidents prompted the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to issue safety advice.

It warned that despite warm temperatures across the country, water temperatures are still cold enough to cause cold water shock.

Swimmer who find themselves unexpectedly in the water to follow advice from Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and "Float to Live".

RNLI advice states that the effects of cold water pass in less than a minute, so anyone caught in cold conditions should wait for a minute before trying to swim. 

It adds that you should relax and float on your back in order to catch breath and try to get a hold of something to help you float.