Rowing coach dies after falling into River Wear

Tributes have been paid to a rowing coach who died after he lost control ofhis bicycle and fell into the River Wear.

Experienced oarsman Bill Grant, from Cleadon, Sunderland was coaching a rowing crew when he fell into the river, which has claimed the lives of three students in the last 16 months.

The 67-year-old fell in the water near Kingsgate Bridge, in County Durham, at 8.25am on February 28. Crew members from the Durham Amateur Rowing Club pulled to the side of the river and helped pull him out.

The father-of-three was taken to hospital by helicopter in a seriouscondition, but died shortly after arrival.

Last night his son Richard, 22, paid tribute to him. father.

Mr Grant was the rowing club’s boat warden, an umpire and is a member ofthe British Rowing Rigging Forum.

He started coaching as a teenager, rowed successfully for Durham University Boat Club for three years, and was a member of DARC’s highest placed Head of the River Race crew ever.

Mr Grant leaves his wife, Jenny, son Richard and two daughters: Catherine, 20, and Emma 19.

The death comes in the wake of three Durham University students who diedafter falling into the river while out drinking in the city centre. Sope Peters drowned in October 2013, Luke Pearce in May 2014, and Euan Coulthard died in January this year.

Last month police and fire officers saved another 20-year-old student whohad fallen into the river. There has since been calls for barriers to be put up around the area and for more officers to patrol the banks of the River Wear.