Death of canoeist in flooded river (From Hillingdon Times)

Death of canoeist in flooded river

10:58pm Saturday 21st November 2009

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A canoeist pulled from a river during Saturday's stormy conditions has 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.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the man, who was with at least two other canoeists, had died. But it is not yet known whether he died at the scene or in hospital.

Fire engines, police and ambulance personnel and a Sea King helicopter had been 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.

A fire service spokesman said: "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."

A rescue team had to walk for "a couple of hours," covering five miles of difficult terrain in poor conditions, to reach the scene, the spokesman said.

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

Everyone in the party is now accounted for, the spokesman added. Severe weather conditions and the remote location are understood to have made the operation difficult.

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

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