A SEVERELY injured and hypothermic kayaker was airlifted to hospital today (Saturday) after becoming stuck on rocks on the river at Linton Falls, near Grassington.

A multi-agency response involved the Grassington based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA), Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, the police and YAS HART.

A spokesperson for UWFRA said: "Water team technicians secured the casualty whilst a plan to extricate him was put into place.

"The team then got the casualty on to the team sled and carefully floated him down stream to a suitable location for extraction.

"There the casualty was transferred on to a stretcher and carried to the waiting doctors and paramedics. "After a quick but thorough check the man was quickly loaded on to the helicopter and away to hospital."

UWFRA added it wished the man a 'very speedy and quick recovery'.