Tragic Discovery in River Tees
The body of a 20-year-old woman has been recovered from the River Tees in County Durham, following a large-scale emergency operation. The incident occurred near the historic market town of Barnard Castle, casting a pall over the community.
Major Emergency Response
Emergency services were alerted at approximately 2:00 pm on Saturday afternoon after receiving reports of a kayaker in distress in the water. The call prompted an immediate and extensive multi-agency response.
The following services were involved in the search operation:
- Durham Constabulary
- County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
- North East Ambulance Service
- Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS)
- HM Coastguard
- Mountain Rescue teams
Timeline of the Search
The North East Ambulance Service has confirmed it received the initial emergency call at 1:50 pm on Saturday, November 15. The incident was located in the Lartington area near Barnard Castle.
In response, the ambulance service dispatched a significant number of resources, including:
- Two ambulance crews
- A clinical team leader
- A duty officer
- Three crews from the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART)
The search concluded just after 4:00 pm, when the woman's body was pulled from the river. Despite the extensive efforts of all emergency personnel, the outcome was tragic.
Aftermath and Family Notification
Durham Constabulary confirmed on Saturday evening that the woman's family have been informed of her death. The police have not released the woman's identity, respecting the family's privacy during this difficult time.
The circumstances leading to the incident are not yet fully clear, and the community around Barnard Castle has been left shaken by the tragic event on the River Tees.
