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Canoeists trapped on river weir Canoeist dies after weir accident
(about 3 hours later)
One man is seriously ill and two others lucky to be alive after their canoes became trapped in a weir on a West Yorkshire river, police said. A canoeist has died after becoming trapped in a weir on a West Yorkshire river, in what police have described as a tragic accident.
A full-scale rescue operation was launched on the River Calder by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue on Saturday. The 37-year-old man, from the Leeds area, was pulled from the River Calder, near Halifax, in a major rescue operation by police and firefighters.
Crews were called to a section of river at Luddenden Foot, where the canoeists were rescued. A man who jumped into the river to help also had to be saved. He was one of four canoeists who had got into difficulties between Luddenden Foot and Sowerby Bridge.
The injured man, thought to be from Leeds, is in Calderdale Royal Hospital. The man was taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital but was later declared dead.
The incident happened between Luddenden Foot and Sowerby Bridge, with emergency services first called out at about 1145 GMT. He is not expected to be named until after the weekend.
The other three canoeists, who were taken to the same Halifax hospital, are expected to make a full recovery.
'Severe difficulties''Severe difficulties'
A fire service spokesman said the rescue involved specialist crews and equipment from across West Yorkshire. A police investigation into the tragedy is under way, but officers have already said there were no suspicious circumstances.
He said: "On arrival the crews found that one person was trapped in a weir on the river and one other person was found to be floating down the river. Inspector Michael Green, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "It is believed to have been a tragic accident."
"A passer-by had jumped in to try to effect the rescue before our arrival. So this required us to rescue that person and also the canoeist who was trapped in the weir." A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said four canoeists were believed to have been in the water when firefighters were alerted, but two managed to climb out without assistance.
He said the trapped canoeist had been in "severe difficulties" when rescuers arrived. The other two were pulled out with the help of a "water rescue sled".
The spokesman said the canoeist trapped on the weir had been in "severe difficulties" when rescuers arrived.
More than 30 firefighters from Leeds, Bingley, Brighouse, Elland, Illingworth and Cleckheaton were involved in the rescue operation.