Tributes paid to University of Sussex canoeist

11:23am Tuesday 22nd April 2008

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Tributes have been paid to a university finance assistant who died in a canoeing accident.

Roger Bates, 42, who worked at the University of Sussex, lost his life while on an expedition in Llangollen, North Wales.

He was a member of the University of Sussex canoe club.

The group were canoeing on the river when Mr Bates's canoe became trapped against a submerged tree trunk.

He was pulled from the river and taken to hospital in Wrexham but was dead when he arrived.

Friends last night began paying tributes to Mr Bates at theargus.co.uk.

One, Nadia from Brighton, said: "Roger was one of the happiest and full of life people I have ever known. He was always smiling and always eager to help or cheer folk up. He and his smile will be greatly missed."

Another, from Richard, ex-Sussex University, said: "Roger was a fine man and a member of the University's Rescue team. He was always ready to help others. He will be sadly missed."

A spokesman for the club said: "The whole club is devastated by the loss of a valued member and friend who we will always remember as a smiling, laughing and outgoing guy.

"He contributed so much in the time he was with us."

Mr Bates was one of 20 from the club who went on the trip. No one else was injured.

According to North Wales Fire and Rescue Service a member of the group dialled 999 from Bont Bridge in Trevor on Saturday at about 1.35pm.

By the time firefighters arrived, Mr Bates's body had been pulled from the water.

A fire service spokeswoman said: "We assisted carrying him from the river to the air ambulance. He was then transferred to Wrexham Maelor Hospital in Wrexham."

The canoe club is a University of Sussex Students' Union society.

Union president Daniel Vockins said all outdoor pursuit clubs underwent annual health and safety audits on equipment and codes of practice. He said safety checks were stringent and several of the club's members held British Canoe Union qualifications.

He said: "The union is deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened and our thoughts at this time are with Roger's family and friends. There are no known incidents of this kind in the union's history. We are awaiting the coroner's report but we will be conducting an internal review into the incident."

Mr Bates, who lived in Brighton, had worked at the university for nine years. He was as a volunteer member of the university's rescue team and was trained to provide a rapid response to emergencies on campus.

He was also a talented artist working with stained-glass and displayed his work at the Brighton Festival Open Houses exhibition.

The university's director of finance, Allan Spencer, said: "Roger was a popular member of staff who will be greatly missed. We are all deeply saddened by his death."

Leave your tributes to Roger Bates below.