Kayaker rescued after becoming trapped in River Tees

Emergency services were alerted shortly after 2pm on Sunday, February 22, to the incident on the River Tees between Romaldkirk and Cotherstone.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said they first received the call at 2.08pm and sent two appliances and a water rescue vehicle to the scene.

The large emergency presence on the scene (Image: STUART BOULTON)

North East Ambulance Service was contacted by the fire and rescue service at 2.15pm and dispatched two Hazardous Area Response Team crews, a paramedic ambulance and a duty officer to assist water rescue units.

Teesdale and Weardale Mountain Search and Rescue team was also called out to reports of a foot entrapment in the river south of Romaldkirk. Fourteen of their team members attended.

The kayaker was released by the fire and rescue water team and assessed by paramedics at the scene. He was discharged after declining to go to hospital.

Mountain and water rescue were called to the scene (Image: STUART BOULTON)

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 2.15pm this afternoon (22 Feb) from the fire and rescue service for a kayaker who had become trapped between two boulders on an island on the River Tees between Romaldkirk and Cotherstone, in County Durham.

“We dispatched two Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) crews, a paramedic ambulance and a duty officer to support water rescue units from Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service.

“The kayaker was rescued and assessed by paramedics before being discharged on scene after declining to go to hospital.”

Emergency services on the scene (Image: STUART BOULTON)

Teesdale and Weardale Mountain Search and Rescue team logs said: “14.28 – 22/02/2026 – The team was called out by Fire & Rescue and NEAS to a kayaker with a foot entrapment in the River Tees south of Romaldkirk. 14 Team members attended. The kayaker was released by the fire & rescue water team and checked over by a NEAS crew.”

A spokesperson for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue service confirmed that their attendance is due to reports of a kayaker stuck in the River Tees.

They first got the call at 2.08pm this afternoon (February 22) and had two appliances and a water rescue vehicle in attendance.