Tributes to kayaker in Dales tragedy

Firefighters and mountain rescue volunteers freed Matthew Baird-Parker, 36, after his kayak became trapped in debris in Arkle Beck, near Reeth, in the Yorkshire Dales, on Sunday afternoon. He was airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead in hospital.

His father Stephen Baird-Parker told the BBC: “Matthew was a very active and committed person and anything he did, he did to his full extent.

“If there was a way you could wish to die, then he would have wanted to die doing this. He was exceptionally good at it and it is all he wanted to do.”

The alarm was raised when Mr Baird-Parker, who is from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, got into difficulty as he kayaked with two friends on the beck, which is also known as the River Arkle, at about 1pm on Sunday.

A major rescue operation was launched and specially-trained firefighters went into the fast-flowing water to attach a rope to the stricken kayak. The teams managed to secure the boat with the help of the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team.

Steve Clough, from the mountain rescue team, said the water was swollen with snow melt and extremely cold.

The Great North Air Ambulance took Mr Baird-Parker to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, for treatment but he was pronounced dead after he arrived.

A second helicopter - an RAF Sea King - also helped with the operation.

Mr Baird-Parker praised the efforts of the emergency services to save his son’s life. North Yorkshire Police confirmed Matthew Baird-Parker was the man who died. An inquest is expected to be opened and adjourned later this week.