River death canoeist named (From York Press)
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River death canoeist named
4:24pm Monday 28th January 2013 in News
A CANOEIST who died after being pulled from a swollen North Yorkshire river has been named.
Matthew Stephen Baird-Parker, 36, from Heckmondwike in West Yorkshire, was rescued from the River Arkle at Reeth after getting into difficulties at about 1pm yesterday, with firefighters and an RAF Sea KIng helicopter being called in to help at Arkle Beck.
He was airlifted to hospital but later died, with police having said he is thought to have been in the water for some time. Mountain rescue volunteers said Mr Baird-Parker is believed to have got trapped amid debris in the river, which had risen due to melting snow and become dangerous.
An inquest into Mr Baird-Parker’s death is expected to be opened and adjourned on Wednesday.
