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| Canoeist pulled from river dies | Canoeist pulled from river dies |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A canoeist who was pulled from a swollen river on Dartmoor in bad weather has died, Devon and Somerset Fire Service has confirmed. | A canoeist who was pulled from a swollen river on Dartmoor in bad weather has died, Devon and Somerset Fire Service has confirmed. |
| He had become trapped against a tree in the River Dart at Newton Abbot, Devon. | He had become trapped against a tree in the River Dart at Newton Abbot, Devon. |
| Two others, believed to be part of the same canoeing party from the Thames Valley area, were airlifted to hospital suffering hypothermia. | |
| Emergency services and a Sea King search and rescue helicopter were alerted at 1630 GMT. | Emergency services and a Sea King search and rescue helicopter were alerted at 1630 GMT. |
| The remote location and poor conditions, near Poundsgate on Dartmoor, made the operation hazardous. | The remote location and poor conditions, near Poundsgate on Dartmoor, made the operation hazardous. |
| Fire crews - supported by mountain rescue teams - spent "a couple of hours" walking five miles over difficult terrain to reach the scene, a fire service spokesman said. | Fire crews - supported by mountain rescue teams - spent "a couple of hours" walking five miles over difficult terrain to reach the scene, a fire service spokesman said. |
| "There has been one fatality. Two other canoeists were trying to keep him upright within the canoe," he said. | "There has been one fatality. Two other canoeists were trying to keep him upright within the canoe," he said. |
| Everyone in the party is now accounted for, he added. It is not yet known whether the man died in hospital. | Everyone in the party is now accounted for, he added. It is not yet known whether the man died in hospital. |
| Robert Steemson, head of recreation, rangers and estates for Dartmoor National Park Authority, said the eight-strong group had been experienced canoeists. | |
| Heavy rain had lashed the area on Saturday and the Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the River Dart. | |
| There are also warnings and flood watches on a further 12 rivers. | There are also warnings and flood watches on a further 12 rivers. |