Capsized canoe and mystery paddleboard spark rescue

Keswick Mountain Rescue teams said conditions on Derwentwater were "rough and windy"

Three canoeists whose boat capsized and a broken abandoned paddleboard sparked a large rescue response in the Lake District.

The canoe, one of two on Derwentwater on Friday night, overturned in "rough and windy conditions".

As Keswick Mountain Rescue teams were assisting, another report came in of a paddleboard which was found floating unattended.

The owner of the board still has not been found, despite a search that included a helicopter, rescue boat and the fire service.

The board, with a snapped ankle strap, was found on Derwentwater

Keswick Mountain Rescue launched from Derwentwater Marina at about 19:10 BST, after receiving reports of three canoeists who had got into difficulty.

Two people in the other canoe called for assistance after making it to an island, from where they were also picked up by rescuers.

One casualty suffered with mild hypothermia and was examined by the ambulance service.

The search and rescue involved a number of emergency services

About an hour later, police and rescuers issued urgent appeals after discovering that the ankle leash of the abandoned paddleboard was snapped.

The rescued canoeists said they had seen the board earlier near to St Herbert’s Island.

Searches continued on the lake and lakeshore

Various rescue agencies, including the coastguard helicopter, helped to search the lake and shore, with a spokesman for Allerdale Police calling on the owner of the paddleboard to make contact and let rescuers know they were safe.

At 22:00 the teams stood down, Keswick Mountain Rescue said.