A CANOEIST is lucky to be alive after being pulled from a fast-flowing river after a capsize.

Richard Simpson, 45, who was in danger of being swept away and drowning, was rescued from the River Wye near Tintern by fellow canoeist Tony Hayward, 64.

Mr Simpson's mother Mary said: "He is very lucky as he was in the water for half an hour and was close to drowning without a doubt."

The 30-minute drama began just before 9am yesterday when Mr Simpson, who had taken his engine-propelled Canadian canoe out on the River Wye, was trying to free his propellor from a plastic bag which had become entangled on it.

His canoe drifted and became caught on a submerged tree, capsizing near his home at Ferry Farm, Brockweir.

Mr Simpson was then carried downstream for a mile and a half, desperately clinging onto his upturned canoe in 15ft deep, fast-flowing water - and so weighed down by his clothing and heavy boots that he could not swim to the safety of the bank 50ft away.

Fellow local canoeist Mr Hayward, also from Tintern, was out walking with his sister Sheila Black, from Somerset, when he heard Mr Simpson, whom he knew, shouting his name and calling for help near the Moon & Sixpence pub.

"I saw him in the water desperately trying to hold onto his upturned canoe as he was rapidly being swept along the river," said Mr Hayward.

"He had been carried a mile and a half along the river from Brockweir and was hanging on as best he could."

The grandfather-of-one, a keen canoeist for 40 years, ran to get his canoe and paddled out to the middle of the river to rescue him.

Resident Liz Craig also spotted him and ran for help.

Mrs Black said Mr Simpson was practically submerged and very frightened.

"The tide was fierce and temperature freezing. Richard said he couldn’t hang on much longer," she said.

"Tony is a strong canoeist and got to him pretty quickly but by this time he was freezing cold and weak."

Mr Hayward said he told Mr Simpson to grab onto the canoe and took him to safety.

"The paramedics took over and I rang his parents to tell them what had happened," he said.

Mr Simpson was treated for hypothermia at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital but was last night recovering at home.

Mother Mary and father Jim Simpson said their son's life was saved by Mr Hayward and Ms Craig.

"He’s very lucky thanks to the quick actions of local residents Liz Craig, who saw him and ran for help, and Tony Hayward," she added.

The canoe was carried down the river and has not yet been recovered.

Canoe Wales told the Argus anyone who wants to take up canoeiing should do so by joining an organised club.

There are details on their website www.canoewales.com