Body of missing British kayaker Bren Orton, 29, found in Swiss lake

The body of a British kayaker has been found two weeks after he went missing in Switzerland, his sponsors have confirmed.

Bren Orton, 29, was found in Lake Maggiore on Thursday after going missing in the southern Ticino region of Switzerland on May 16.

Its kayak manufacturer Pyranha said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce that our friend and ambassador Bren Orton is no longer with us. »

“The outpouring of love and support from the paddling community since Bren’s passing has been overwhelming.

“This support has been a profound source of strength for all of us, especially his family and close friends. Let's send our love to our paddling family at this time.

The company said Orton became “trapped in a recirculation element and did not resurface.”

Orton has documented his kayaking trips on Instagram, where he has amassed over 55,000 followers.

In a 2020 interview, he described kayaking as “a sport that challenges you on so many levels, provides access to some of the nicest people on the planet, and takes a kid from Warrington to Africa in pursuit of the best rapid”.

He holds the British record for the highest waterfall descent in 2019 after plunging 128ft down Big Banana Falls in Mexico.

“Shortly before 1:00 p.m. (11:00 GMT) in Locarno, the lifeless body of the man who disappeared on May 16 while kayaking in the Melezza was found in the waters of Lake Maggiore,” a spokesperson said. of the Ticino police.

“The alarm was triggered by a sailor who found the body in the water and immediately called emergency services.”

Former kayaker James Reeves paid tribute to Bren, writing on Facebook: “Every few years we seem to lose a friend to our sport. Every loss is difficult, and this one is profound.

“Bren Orton was an incredible human. Since his teens, his warm smile and friendly nature shone as brightly as his kayaking skills… I had the privilege of briefly mentoring Bren in his early years, then watched in awe as he became the one of the greatest whitewater kayakers of all time.