A kayaker at Whorlton Lido Falls, on the River Tees. Photo: Andy Waddington CC-BY-SA-2.0

A retired Army officer has died in a paddling accident on the River Tees in County Durham.

Police today named 47-year-old Andy Pullan as the man who perished when his kayak capsized at Whorlton Lido near Barnard Castle on Saturday.

The incident happened shortly after 2pm and Colonel Pullan was pulled from the river by his instructor and given first aid, initially by members of the public and fellow canoeists then by one of the police officers called to the scene.

A Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: “Paramedics took over and he was flown by air ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where sadly he died on Sunday morning.”

Police said there are no suspicious circumstances and enquiries are being conducted on behalf of the coroner, who is expected to open an inquest into Col Pullan’s death in due course.

Colonel Andy Pullan commanded 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment between 2006 and 2008 and had recently retired from the Army.

He leaves a widow, Mel, and two children Ben and Hanna.