Canoeist trapped in river in the UK dies

A canoeist pulled from a river during stormy conditions in the UK died, the fire service said.

The 46-year-old man from Reading was taken from the River Dart at Mel Tor, Poundsgate, Newton Abbot after getting trapped against a tree yesterday afternoon.

In the evening Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service confirmed that the man, who was with at least two other canoeists, had died.

Fire engines, police and ambulance personnel and a Sea King helicopter were scrambled to the scene just after 4.30pm.

Two other people, understood to be fellow canoe enthusiasts, were plucked from the water suffering from hypothermia this evening.

A service spokesman said last night: “There has been one fatality. We were called at 4.30pm to a report of a canoeist trapped against a tree. Two other canoeists were trying to keep him upright within the canoe.”

Everyone in the party is now accounted for, he added. It is not yet known whether the man died in hospital.

Severe weather conditions and the remote location are understood to have made the operation difficult.

The Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the River Dart.

Fire crews proceeded on foot and were assisted by the mountain rescue team because of the conditions.

A rescue team walked for “a couple of hours” covering five miles of difficult terrain in poor conditions to reach the scene, a service spokesman said.

Dartmoor rescue, Dartmoor rangers and crews from Camels Head fire station were still in attendance.

The two hypothermia sufferers were airlifted to hospital by RAF search and rescue helicopter.