The Afon Ogwen at Braichmelyn. Photo: Nigel Williams CC BY-SA 2.0

A paddler has died after his kayak capsized and he was swept away on a north Wales river.

The 57-year-old was with another man when both went into the water in the Afon Ogwen near Bethesda.

North Wales Police said a passer-by alerted emergency services at 12.55pm today, Saturday, after spotting two empty kayaks near the Halfway Bridge, 3km north of the town.

Ogwen Mountain Rescue Organisation was alerted, along with the fire service and ambulance crews and a Sea King helicopter scrambled from RAF Valley on Anglesey.

The police spokesperson said: “One canoeist made his own way to safety but the other was located downriver and was transferred to hospital by RAF 22 Squadron.”

The man, who was found near Penrhyn Castle, died soon afterwards in Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan.

His uninjured companion made his way to the bank at a caravan park at Braichmelyn, 6km (3¾miles) upstream from where the 57-year-old was pulled from the river.

Police said no further information about the incident at present.

• The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation members were diverted at 3pm to rescue three walkers who had become cragfast on the east face of Tryfan. The callout to the site was the second in a week, two people described as poorly equipped having been brought to safety last Sunday after getting stuck without ice axes and crampons.