Published: Tuesday, 24th November, 2009 3:00pm

Friends tried to save canoeist

by Adam Hewitt

Comments (0) | Print | Email

CANOEISTS from all over the Thames Valley have paid tribute to Chris Wheeler, who died pursuing his hobby on Saturday.

Mr Wheeler, 46, wrote online about his upcoming trip to the River Dart in Devon just days beforehand, saying on Thursday: "The rivers will rise quickly, within an hour. This will take lots of people by surprise. Another classic Dartmoor day then, can't wait!"

He was an experienced canoeist and coach with more than 25 years' experience, but became trapped against a tree near Poundsgate at 4.30pm. He was in a group of eight, two of whom tried to keep him upright, but terrible weather and bad light made for a difficult rescue operation and when the emergency services reached him, he was dead. An RAF helicopter airlifted the two who tried to help him to hospital, suffering hypothermia.

Mr Wheeler, from Reading, was a partner at the Oxford office of chartered surveyors Cluttons.

Jack Kellard, a development surveyor at Goodman at Arlington Business Park, Theale and a fellow canoeist, said: "Most paddlers can only aspire to reach the skill and courage levels required to paddle the rivers Chris did. I can only admire him. My thoughts go out to his friends and family."

He was known to some as 'Magic Knees' after dislocating both joints on Conwy Falls in north Wales in the 1980s and Mr Kellard added: "Every paddler in the country, particularly the Thames Valley, will have heard of Chris and the rivers he has completed, including his amazingly brave escape where he damaged his knees."

A spokeswoman for Cluttons, Carla Matthews, said: "It is with great sadness and deep regret that we learned of the sudden death of Chris Wheeler on Saturday. Chris was a Partner in our Oxford office at Seacourt Tower, Botley. An experienced Commercial Chartered Surveyor, Chris had been with the firm for 10 years. He was well known and respected in the Oxford business community. We extend our sympathies to his partner and family at this difficult time."

Mr Wheeler contributed to canoeing magazines, websites and forums, and jokingly listed his home as being "Hurley, Shepperton, Sunbury..." referring to some of the best-known weirs among caneoists and kayakers in the Thames Valley and London.

Reading Canoe Club said he was not a member there, but paid tribute to him as part of the "Reading community" of paddlers.

Another kayaker, Fiona Jarvie, a former member of Reading University Canoe Club, told the Chronicle: "This was extremely sad news. I often met Chris paddling late in the evening at Hurley weir - usually I would be getting off the water and he would just be getting on for some 'sole-surfing' in the dark! He was a well-travelled paddler and very experienced. He was friendly to everyone on the water and was well respected amongst the paddling community. He will be sorely missed by anyone who has met him. My thoughts are with his family and girlfriend and to those who were with him on the day."

Writing on the Thames Valley Freestylers website, Andy Wicks from Ealing said: "I had the pleasure of meeting Chris a few times and paddled with him at Hurley for many night-time sessions. He was always friendly and approachable."

Another forum user, 'matty', wrote: "Chris was an integral part of Thames Valley padding.

"He was an amazing paddler who made running, difficult whitewater look horribly easy but more importantly he was a top bloke who never had a bad thing to say, a real gentleman. My thoughts go out to his family and girlfriend, he will be sadly missed."

For more stories and your full round up of what's happening in Reading you can purchase the e-edition of the Reading Chronicle click here.