A MAN who died after a canoeing accident in the River Tees was a former serviceman who recently retired from the Army.

Father-of-two Andrew Pullan, aged 47, was pulled under the water at Whorlton Lido, near Barnard Castle, after his canoe capsized just after 2pm, on Saturday.

Police today (Monday, October 28) formally identified Mr Pullan, a recently retired Colonel who commanded 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, between 2006 and 2008, who lived in Barnard Castle.

He is survived by his widow, Melanie, and two children Ben and Hannah.

Dozens of condolence messages for Mr Pullan’s family were posted on The Yorkshire Regiment’s Facebook page after the announcement of his death.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “There are no suspicious circumstances and police enquiries are now being conducted on behalf of the coroner, who is expected to open an inquest into Mr Pullan’s death in due course.”

Mr Pullan was pulled from the swollen river on Saturday afternoon by his instructor and given first aid at the scene, initially by members of the public and fellow canoeists, then by a police officer who was in attendance.

Witnesses described seeing more than 20 people involved in the desperate rescue effort.

Mr Pullan was flown by the Great North Air Ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, suffering from head and chest injuries.

He died at 7.30am on Sunday morning.

Another man who was with Mr Pullan was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital suffering from the effects of being in the water.

His injuries are not thought to be serious.

Details of Mr Pullan’s funeral have not yet been released.