A canoeist died yesterday after getting into difficulties in fast flowing water in a Cumbrian river.
The 50-year-old, believed to be from the Preston, Lancashire, area, was released by emergency crews after becoming trapped underwater in the River Crake, Spark Bridge, north of Ulverston. Emergency services were alerted to the incident about 3pm.
A spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary said: “Following a difficult operation by members of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics, assisted by the injured man’s friends, he was taken from the river and then by Sea King helicopter to Furness General Hospital, Barrow in Furness.”
He was pronounced dead at 8.53pm.
- A canoeist was airlifted from the River Etive in the Highlands after suffering spinal injuries.
The 22-year-old man was taken by Royal Navy helicopter to the Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, following the incident about 2.15pm yesterday.
The River Etive, which flows into Glencoe, is a series of falls over 5km (3 miles) and is rated by many as one of Scotland’s finest paddling rivers. Among hazards along its length are the Triple Falls and the Crack of Doom.
