TRIBUTES have been paid to a Dorset schoolteacher who died in a kayaking accident.

Tobias Hamer, 23, a science and outdoor activities teacher at Milton Abbey School in Milton Abbas drowned in the River Dart in Devon in a tragic accident.

His kayak had overturned and he became trapped by a fallen tree.

Gloucester-born Mr Hamer, known as Toby, was part of a group of seven kayakers on a notorious stretch of the river between Dartmeet and Newbridge known as The Mad Mile, when the accident happened.

Police, paramedics, firefighters and Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team were all called to the scene just after 9am on December 7, after one of the kayakers was able to get to a car park and a phone.

Police said they received reports of a male in his 20s, who had been upturned in a kayak. The kayak flipped upside down and the rushing water forced Mr Hamer under the bank by a tree.

He was trapped for a considerable time according to police and sadly could not be saved.

Mr Hamer's friend Dan Agathangelou said he met him while studying at university and was saddened to hear the news of his death.

He said: “I am thinking of his family at this difficult time and want to thank the other paddlers with him and the rescue team that would have done everything humanly possible to help him.

“Rest in peace, mate. It was an absolute pleasure to get to know you over the four years and knowing you went out doing something you genuinely loved is all that I can focus on.”

As well as a kayaker, Mr Hamer was a keen sailor and would often sail a Fireball dinghy and take part in national races as part of the Fireball fleet.

UK Fireball Class published a tribute on its Facebook page sending its condolences to Mr Hamer’s family.

The post said: “Toby was well known to the Fireball fleet having sailed Fireballs with his partner, for the last few years at Hayling Island SC and, latterly, Port Dinorwic before they relocated to Dorset to take up teaching positions a few months ago.

“We send our condolences to Toby's family and friends. Our thoughts are with them all.”

Milton Abbey School did not want to comment.

Inspector Si Jenkinson of Devon and Cornwall Police told the Plymouth Herald: “We were on scene fairly quickly, but realised specialist equipment was needed. They had great difficulty in getting him out.

“I understand he was in that position for three hours before getting him out, so we knew, sadly that it wouldn’t be a successful outcome.”

The river was closed while police investigated the scene and Mr Hamer was pronounced dead at the scene at 2.09pm.

An inquest into Mr Hamer's death which was opened in Plymouth was told there were no suspicious circumstances and the cause of death was drowning.

The inquest was adjourned until a full hearing can take place on a date still to be decided.