Picture of Kidderminster paddler who died in Yorkshire (From Worcester News)

Picture of Matthew Baird-Parker

1:01pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News

This is the picture of a "committed" paddler from Kidderminster who died after being pulled from a mountain stream in Yorkshire.

Matthew Baird-Parker, 36, was canoeing with friends when he got into difficulties on the Arkle Beck at Reeth, near Leyburn, shortly after 1pm on Sunday.

His Father Stephen said he "always lived his life full on".

He added: " He was totally committed to everything that he did and was totally committed to his kayaking and that's all he wanted to do. It was his job and his life."

He added Matthew had moved to Yorkshire about two years ago to be near the water.

"He seems to have touched the lives of a lot of people," he said.

Matthew, who lived in the Heckmondwike area of West Yorkshire, was with two other canoeists when he got into difficulties.

 

A huge operation involving five emergency services and 40 rescuers was launched to help after the alarm was raised when his canoe became trapped in debris.

He was rescued from the river and the Great North Air Ambulance took him to James Cook Hospital but he was pronounced dead.