The Phoenix Boatyard
A man in his 40s has died in a canoeing accident on the River Avon.
Emergency services were called to the river near Swineford yesterday afternoon after reports of canoeists in the water after their vessels capsized near the weir.
Other canoeists were pulled to safety but one man was later discovered by Avon Fire & Rescue Service teams under a barge at moorings downstream at the Phoenix Boatyard.
Mark Anderson, area manager for Avon Fire & Rescue Service, said it was unclear how experienced the canoeists were.
The boatyard is owned by Dave Laming, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s river champion. He wrote on Twitter yesterday: “Confirmed body taken from river this afternoon trapped under bows of Dutch Barge on my boatyard. Empty Canadian style canoe swept past. RIP.”
And today he again took to Twitter, this time to highlight the dangers of people who he had seen sailing on the river today without life jackets.
There have been unconfirmed reports that the man who drowned was not wearing a buoyancy aid.
The death has been referred to the coroner.
