A British kayaker is feared to be dead after disappearing in a river in Switzerland, reports have said, as local authorities are racing against time to track him down.
Bren Orton, 29, had been trapped by strong underwater currents in the River Melezza in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton of Ticino.
Orton had posted footage of himself kayaking fewer than 48 hours before his disappearance on Thursday afternoon – and rescue efforts from Swiss and Italian authorities are still underway.
A Ticino police spokesman said: “Shortly before 2.45pm in the area of Palagnedra, a man who was previously in a kayak was reported missing in the Melezza river.
“The searches – currently unsuccessful and still ongoing – began immediately and involve agents from the cantonal police and, in support, from the Ascona police as well as rescuers from the Locarnese and Valli Ambulance Service.”
Pyranha, the firm which makes Orton’s high-performance kayaks, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce an accident involving Bren Orton.
“While kayaking with a group on the Melezza River in Switzerland, Bren became trapped in a recirculating feature and did not resurface.
“Authorities and friends are tirelessly continuing their search efforts, and at this time, Bren is considered missing.”
More to follow…