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Body found in missing kayaker search on River Usk, Powys Family of kayaker Gareth Lockyer pay tribute to 'kind' man
(35 minutes later)
Rescuers searching for a missing kayaker in the River Usk find a body, says Dyfed-Powys Police. The family of a kayaker whose body was found in the River Usk in Powys after he got into difficulty have paid tribute to him.
A 34-year-old man got into difficulty in the river at Llangynidr, near Crickhowell, shortly before 13:00 GMT on Sunday. Gareth Lockyer, 34, from Warwick, became separated from the group he was with at Llangynidr, near Crickhowell, on Sunday lunchtime.
Search teams later found a kayak similar to the one he was using. His body was found by rescuers at 11:20 GMT on Monday.
A body was discovered at 11:20 GMT in the River Usk after initial attempts to resume the search were hampered by treacherous weather on Monday morning. His family, who said he had never visited that section of the Usk before, called him kind and gentle.
A police statement said: "Dyfed Powys Police can confirm that a body has been found during the search for a 34-year-old kayaker who went missing on the River Usk yesterday afternoon. Mr Lockyer had disappeared at about 13:00 GMT on Sunday in a river whose levels were very high after recent rain.
"The body was discovered shortly before 11.20am in the River Usk. Rescue teams had carried out searches all through the day, and his body was found when the search resumed on Monday, after first being hampered by continued bad weather.
"The family of the missing kayaker has been informed of the discovery and efforts will now get under way to formally identify the deceased." Mr Lockyer grew up in the Cotswolds but more recently lived in Warwick with his partner Emma.
Earlier on Monday, Insp Stuart Eckley said officers from a marine unit at Pembrokeshire were being drafted in, along with specialist dogs. The University of Nottingham engineering graduate worked as a mechanical design engineer and was a keen kayaker, mountain biker and hill walker.
Heavy rain The Leamington Spa Canoe Club member regularly went on kayaking trips around the UK, most often to north Wales and Dartmoor.
He thanked the people of Llangynidr for "the excellent support the community has shown to us". 'Caring and gentle'
Water levels were high on the River Usk following heavy rain over the weekend. He had never visited the Crickhowell section of the River Usk before, but his family said he was excited about coming to Wales.
The Usk burst its banks at Llanfoist, near Abergavenny, on Sunday. In a tribute issued through police, they said Mr Lockyer was always watching out for other people and putting others before himself. They described him as a "kind, caring and gentle" person.
Simon Woodhead, of the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, was one of 45 members searching on Sunday. The family thanked members of the emergency services who were involved in searching for him.
He said: "The river was out of its banks and the area the river flows through - particularly the top end - is quite gorgy, so it has very very steep muddy sides and the footpaths, which would normally be at the water's edge, were actually under water. Officers from a marine unit at Pembrokeshire were drafted in, along with specialist dogs, to help with the search.
"Come dark, it was far too dangerous to have personnel in the area so the search was stood down for the evening." Insp Stuart Eckley thanked the people of Llangynidr for "the excellent support the community has shown to us".
He said willow beds in the area were an added hazard.Body found in missing kayaker search on River Usk, Powys