Body of Warrington kayaker found after he went missing in Switzerland

The body of a kayaker from Warrington has been found in Switzerland.

Bren Orton went missing on 16th May, while kayaking with a group on the Melezza River.

At the time of the incident, his sponsor Pyranha Kayaks said he "became trapped in a recirculating feature and did not resurface."

The firm says his body has since been recovered in Lake Maggiore, which crosses the Swiss-Italian border.

In a statement posted online, Pyranha Kayaks said:

"It is with immense sadness that we announce that our friend and ambassador Bren Orton is no longer with us.

"It has been reported that Bren’s body was recovered yesterday in Lago Maggiore, Italy, following a tragic accident on the nearby river Melezza on the 16th of May.

"The outpouring of love and support from the paddling community since Bren went missing has been extraordinary. This support has been a profound source of strength for all of us, especially for his family and close friends."

The Cantonal Police said in a statement:

"Shortly before 1.00 p.m. in Locarno, the lifeless body of the man who disappeared on May 16 while kayaking in the Melezza was found in the waters of the Verbano.

"The alarm was raised by a sailor who found the body in the water and immediately alerted the rescue."

The 29-year-old had almost 60,000 followers on Instagram, where he posted footage of his adventures.

Paddle UK have described him as a "white water kayaking legend".

They say Bren was known for his "distinct freestyle tricks on huge waves and waterfalls across the world".

He competed internationally, representing the GB Freestyle team at the 2015 World Championships in Ottawa, making the final in the men's kayak.

Ashley Metcalfe, CEO of Paddle UK said:

“A huge loss to the paddlesport community, Bren Orton’s trailblazing achievements in freestyle and paddling adventures across the world have made a huge impact.

“Without question, he will be remembered as one of our sport's greatest ever ambassadors.

“On behalf of our members, staff and the Board of Paddle UK, I would like to send my condolences to Bren's family, friends and fellow paddlers.”

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