A CANOEIST who was airlifted to hospital after getting into difficulty in the River Tees in County Durham died this morning.

The emergency services were called to the river at Whorlton Lido, near Barnard Castle at 2.06pm yesterday afternoon.

A fellow caneoist is believed to have pulled the 47-year-old man who was in difficulties out of the river underneath the suspension bridge.

Paramedics, police and a fire crew from Barnard Castle were sent to the scene and gave first aid to the man.

He was airlifted from the river bank to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough suffering from head and chest injuries.

Durham Police said he died in hospital this morning.

A statement released by the force said: "On the afternoon of Saturday, October 26 a 47-year-old male was pulled from the water at Whorlton Lido having capsized while canoeing.

"CPR was conducted by a member of the public initially and then the emergency services arrived.

"The casualty was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital but sadly at 7.30am this morning the casualty was pronounced dead."