Hobdale Beck, scene of the rescue. Photo: David Brown CC-BY-SA-2.0

A paddler who was airlifted from a beck in the Howgill fells on New Year’s Day has died.

Catherine Stainsby, 41, from Swinton, Malton in North Yorkshire, died yesterday in Royal Preston Hospital.

Ms Stainsby was part of a group canoeing at Hobdale Beck, Cautley, Sedbergh which got into difficulties.

Emergency services were called at about 2.25pm on 1 January and paramedics, fire and rescue officers and police went to the scene and Ms Stainsby was flown by air ambulance to hospital but died two days later.

Cumbria Constabulary said details of the incident have been passed to the Preston coroner.

All the other canoeists in the party survived safe and well.