A MAN whose kayak capsized in the River Dee died as a result of organ failure caused by drowning, an inquest has found.

Kevin Richard Larkin, 28, died on January 8, the day after he was submerged in the Dee at the Horseshoe Weir in Llangollen.

Elizabeth Dudley-Jones, assistant coroner for North East Wales and Central, heard Mr Larkin got into difficulty while kayaking with a group of friends on the morning of Sunday, January 7.

Giving evidence at the Ruthin hearing, Ross Montandon, a kayak instructor with 10 years experience who was with another group on the Dee that day, described the rescue attempt which he joined as soon as he saw Mr Larkin in the water.

He said other kayakers were throwing a line out to Mr Larkin from the shore but when he was pulled out of the water onto some rocks he was unconscious and looked "very blue".

Mr Montandon helped with the CPR on Mr Larkin until the emergency services arrived to take over.

A statement was read out from Warwick Redway, another experienced kayaker who was with a separate group, who risked his own life going into the water to try to save Mr Larkin.

He described how Mr Larkin was trapped in the weir in a tumbled "washing machine" effect as the water kept pulling him back under.

Dr Denise Gomez, a junior doctor with Ysbyty Gwynedd who was working with the Wales Air Ambulance that day, also gave evidence to the inquest.

She described the care Mr Larkin was given and the resuscitation attempts as "excellent", but Mr Larkin's heart was not beating and they were unable to find a pulse.

Julian Michael Barker, a critical care consultant at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, where Mr Larkin was flown by the Wales Air Ambulance, said he "likely drowned very quickly" and despite best efforts, suffered a devastating "unsurvivable injury" to the brain.

With the agreement of his family, his life support was switched off the next day.

Ms Dudley-Jones recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure caused by multi-organ failure as a result of drowning,

A statement from Mr Larkin's mother, Ruth Larkin, was read out to the hearing.

She said: "He was unique, young, full of life and most importantly touched many people's lives.

"He was kind affectionate, tolerant, relaxed and calm."

Born in Chester, Mr Larkin spent part of his childhood in Antigua before attending the Rydal School in Colwyn Bay.

He was in the Army Reserves at Colwyn Bay and was a mature student at Bangor University.