Canoeist Matthew Baird-Parker "loved" the water
The family of a kayaker who died after getting into difficulties in a swollen river have said he "loved" the water.
Matthew Baird-Parker was pulled from Arkle Beck at Reeth, North Yorkshire, on Sunday by firefighters but died later in hospital.
The 36-year-old, from Kidderminster, had become trapped in debris.
Mr Baird-Parker's father, Stephen, said his son had been "full of life" and praised the emergency services who had tried to save him.
"If there was a way you could wish to die then he would have wanted to die doing this. He was exceptionally good at it and it is all he wanted to do."
More top news
Cheers mate! Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson receives MBE
Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson's MBE moment sparks magical memories of when I collected my OBE.
Weekend weather prospects
It's Thursday! So what are the weekend weather prospects?
In pictures: The WWII Dambusters operation
It is the 70th anniversary of one of the most famous air operations of World War II, the Dambusters raid.