Tom Sunter

[Mark R]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/4503368.stm

[Helen M]

Nithsdale Canoe Club send their sympathies to his family and friends.

Thinking of you all

Helen - Nithsdale Canoe Club

[Daffers]

Very very sad...

Dafni...

[andy]

A teacher from Cockermouth School was killed in a tragic canoeing accident in Scotland.

Thomas Adam Sunter, 26, was canoeing with friends at Crawick Waters, just north of Sanquhar in Dumfries on Sunday.

The incident occurred at around 2.30pm. Despite efforts by his three friends to save him, he was pronounced dead shortly after the emergency services arrived.

He had been a physics teacher at the school since September.

Today Mike Wild, headteacher of Cockermouth School said: “Mr Sunter had an enormous enthusiasm for his subject and made a mark on the school in the three months he was there. He was very well liked by pupils and had a very strong career ahead of him.

“He came from Manchestor and studied mechanical engineering at Strathclyde University and then did a teaching qualification at the University of Wales in Bangor.

“He had a passion for the great outdoors, and helped run the sailing club at the school.

“Everyone in the school is deeply shocked and saddened by his death.”

A spokesman for Dumfries and Galloway Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

******************

Always a sobering thing to see fellow paddles killed doing what they enjoy.

Carlisle Canoe Club send their thoughts.

[councildog]

very very sad and a waste of a young life.

stirling canoe club
send their sympathies to all his family and friends.

[Mark R]

Tragically a canoeist died while paddling the Crawick on Sunday 4th December. I have very little concrete information but local press reports that a twenty four year old man died while paddling in a group of four experienced canoeists. I will be speaking to the Police to ascertain whether any information can be shared to reduce risks to any other paddlers. There have been several reports of trees in the narrow gorge but I do not yet know if this was a factor. Please be aware and treat the gorge with caution on the meantime. Paddle safe!


Steve McCreadie
River advisor Nith and Minnoch

[stella]

Very sad such a shame

[cian]

This is very sad news, some of us at Bangor Uni had paddled with Tom, he was always very friendly and good to chat to. Regards from Bangor uni canoe club.


Kieran

[neilfarmer]

Not really sure how to go about this, but, for those that were not lucky enough to meet Tom, here is a little bit about him.





I only recently met Tom. We were sitting in a layby, in July, at the top of the Giarsund gorge, waiting for the last of the team to get ready. A strange white van pulls in and we offer them a shuttle. That random moment, led our group to spend the next 5 days with a funny, friendly, frighteningly enthusiastic and highly motivated paddler. Everyone, immediately 'hit it off'. A rare thing! As a paddler, Tom was a great mixture of motivation, encouragement and reliable backup.


The Ardez, Austria


Surfing on the Sanna, Austria

After 6 days, Tom and Dave had to leave, so that Tom could get back to the UK, and give up some of his time to help some 'Duke of Edinburgh awarders' complete their expedition! But not before I discovered that he was going to Norway! Super friendly, Tom agreed to drive over and meet us off the ferry in Voss.

Here, I gradually got to know a really 'giving person', who made the most of every minute, a confident paddler, able to encourage everyone, no matter how cold/wet or dark it was, or indeed how scared or tired we were...! We started a circuit in Voss, heading up past the Boyelva (and he managed to encourage us on, with a rough air temperature of 3degrees), Val-de-Selva, past the Rauma (he had run the upper earlier) and onto Sjoa. Here he decided to define his enthusiasm by running the Amot gorge at every availlable opportunity!


Amot falls, Norway

Since then, I have seen him in Scotland on an unfeasably large number of occassions, running, among others, the Falls of Lora and the Coe. Somehow, he also managed to fit in some mountain biking!

My last memory was of the 12th November, after a late start on the Luss, talking about 'knocking off the Luss, Douglas, perhaps heading to the falls of Dochart and then the Leny!', 100yards in, I slip over, cut my hand badly. Tom, able as ever, first aid kit out, bandages me up, helps me back to the van, carries my boat up and returns me to my car. Not a single complaint or mention of the rivers that he wanted to do. With a smile, he sends me off to hospital and decides on a hillwalk.

I'm very glad that I met Tom. Certainly will not forget him.


Skjack Playwave, Norway


Astre


Raundalselva, Norway


Boyelva put in, Norway

[Mark R]

Thanks for sharing, Neil.

I didn't know the fellow, but it's obvious from your tale and photos that he was 'one of us'.

Very sad.

[Craighendersonobu]

This is really sad news, one of my best friends Tim was paddlying in Norway this year with Tom.

My thoughts go out to family and friends

Craig

[Steve B]

It's always hard to know what to say when someone you didn't know is lost. Now I feel I knew Tom just a little. Thanks Neil.

[Rob_Roy]

I only had the pleasure of meeting Tom a handful of times.
There are many people up this way, made very sad by the loss. From Neils words it easy to see why, a talented man that will really be missed.
My thoughts go out to all his family and friends in a sad time.

Graham Fairweather

[simplemedlyn]

I never had the chance of meeting the man, but he sounds a great person and a friend to the people that know him. This is such sad news to here and im sure it will hit the paddling community very hard. my throughts go out to all of his family and friends.

take care everyone, paddle safe.

R.I.P Tom you will be missed.

[Marv]

Cheers Neil,

Unfortunately I only met Tom once on the Coe, but the memory of that day will take a long long time to be erased. Just wish I had known him better....

My sympathy to all those who knew him better, and to his family and friends.

Marv

[The Shell]

Thanks Neil.

[Daffers]

Wonderful words Neil...

For thoes that knew him, I am greatly saden by your lost.

[Simon Westgarth]

Tom joined G17 in Italy this last Spring and in spite of having no kayak fashion sense, was brimmed full of energy, so much so it would radiate from him and infuse all around. A Gentle Gaint of a man, his still managed with considerable skill to paddle the boat with the flare and grace of a much lighter man.

Check out:




Later last Summer Tom came to Norway with a new boat and a renewed passion for adventures, and in these weeks where our paths would occassional cross, he would inform myself of all the new runs he had paddled and why hadn't been there before, I would be heartened by his enthusiasm on the water and for his then new job as a NQT Teacher,

I will miss him and his energy

[MikeB]

Deepest sympathies. Mike

[Tom_Laws]

It's always hard to know what to say when someone you didn't know is lost. Now I feel I knew Tom just a little. Thanks Neil.

Sums it up for me too. As Mark said, one of us for sure.

Tom

[Ryan Clements]

http://ryan-clements.fotopic.net/c788280.htmlA link to a few more pictures of Tom in Norway.

I really don't know what to write about Tom as I feel it would be so impossible to portray him in a few paragraphs, but these are some of the things I will remember:

His huge smile.

The smell and appearance of the interior of his van.

His dry sense of humour.

"Going for a coffee" with Tom in a swanky Glasgow coffee shop- while Tom was wearing his size 12 wellies (very, very proudly!).

The casual "physics lessons" he gave me whilst eating pizza in Austria.

Toms irrepressible enthusiasm for being in amazing places- even after a week of Norwiegen rain.

Going for a meal at a very posh hotel as a final "blow out" in Landeck and Tom asking the (new) waitress (in his exellent German) for a "guinea pig salad", and of course the subsequent impressions of the said animal to clarify that she had not misheard him.

His unfailing modesty.

His inspiring view of young people- and what he could do to help them better themselves.

On the river Tom was at the top of my list for "favorite people to paddle with", he had a way which made everybody around him feel like part of a real team. Tom never showed a trace of any ego, he always made his own choices on the river, and always supported others in theirs. Tom's talents were not confined to the river and I am told that he was also a very talented phycisist outside of teaching it in the classroom.

I had not known Tom for that long, but he always made me feel like an old friend and I will miss him very much. In Tom's own words when we last met "it was a pleasure, as always".

My thoughts and deepest sympathies are especially with Tom's family, but also with his close friends.

[James Hartley]

While I admit I have never met Tom, the comments expressed, and the memories shared, have given me a glimpse of the type of man he was, and how much he will be missed by those who know him, and the paddling comunity at large.
Condolences to his families and friends.

[ric v o]

Tom filled every moment he lived with positive energy, in all that he did. I cannot thank him enough for this. I am proud to of been his mate and hope that we can all carry on Tom's way of making the most of life.



Thank you for all the kind words of support, Tom's family are aware of this forum and I am sure that it will be of comfort to them, to know the thoughts for them.



There are so many memories, tales and quirks to share that I don't know were to begin or how to go about it, though the photos above for me sum Tom up. The first photo on Neils post gives me a big smile inside. It is taken after our first adventure down the then high water Amot Gorge, we were both so happy with everything, the paddling, the van, a hot chick in the car behind, Tom's new roof bars bought that day (which then ment we could vaugely get in the van) and the food (pancakes and potato salad- the cheapest thing in Norway!). For half the trip there was just the two of us and with a broken bike and only Tom driving he never complained about walking the shuttles,layby living and sharing a small tent with a whittering dutchman. Thanks Tom



If anyone has any memories that they want to share, but dont want to post them on the forum, you can email me and I will pass them on to his family. rickvanopstal@hotmail.com

[will_sheaff]

A Sad Loss.

Will

[mpooleman]

my sympathies

mark

[Tom W]

I only met Tom a few times, one of which was to buy his old boat (which I still have), and although this doesn't really mean I knew him, I am saddened to know that he has gone. My sypathies go to all those that really did know him.

Tom