Fears for British kayaker missing in Norway

Updated
Fears for British kayaker missing in Norway
Fears for British kayaker missing in Norway

Stock photo, Voss, Norway: Rex


Fears are growing for a British kayaker who went missing in a river in Norway.

Jason Raper, 19, from Scarborough, went missing in the River Raundalen on Saturday.

He had been on a five-week adventure holiday in Europe, for which he'd set off from England on 14 June, and was believed to be in Norway for an extreme sports festival in Voss.

According to the BBC, a Norwegian police spokesman Ivar Hellene said initial rescue searches had been called off until water levels in the river had fallen.

He said two helicopters, boats and around 80 people had been involved in the initial search, adding: "The river has a strong current. If he is still in the river well I fear the worst."

Organisers of the Ekstremsportveko festival said Mr Raper's trip on Saturday was not part of the festival, which began on Sunday.

Dag Sandvik, from the local kayak club in Voss, said Mr Raper was kayaking with three friends at the time he went missing.

Mr Sandvik added: "The kayak community at Voss is strongly affected by the incident. Our thoughts go to the paddler's family and his friends who were with him on the river that day."



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