Search to resume for missing oarsman

The crews were taking part in an annual training session

Emergency services in Spain fear an Oxford University oarsman may have died after his team's boat capsized during a training session.

Seventeen other squad members from two coxed eights were rescued, but 21-year-old Leo Blockley, from Lancashire, disappeared after swimming for the bank.

The two Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club boats were flooded after being hit by sudden gusts on the River Ebro at Amposta, near Barcelona.

The tragedy is that Leo swam to the bank and got into difficulties

Steve Royle, Oxford University Boat Club

Rescuers from the Spanish fire brigade, Red Cross and Civil Guard said they would not give up hope and are resuming their search this morning.

Steve Royle, the director of rowing at Oxford University Boat Club, said the local boating club had assessed the conditions as safe.

"The tragedy is that Leo swam to the bank and got into difficulties," he said.

"These guys are pretty shell-shocked as you can imagine. It's a close community, they go through a lot together."

Annual training

At least one other person from a launch with the boats also went overboard but made it safely to the bank.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it had not yet been established if the vessels collided or whether bad weather conditions were the cause.

The rowing team were on their annual training camp in the Spanish town in preparation for fielding two crews against Cambridge in March.

Rowing club president Jeremy Fagan, speaking from Spain, said everyone was distraught over the fate of the Lincoln College student.

"All other members of the party - rowers, coxes and coaches - are safe and well, but upset by today's events. Our thoughts at this time are very much with Leo's family."

Redgrave shocked

Britain's five time gold medal winning rower Steve Redgrave has expressed shock at the news of the accident.

"I obviously don't know the full circumstances, all I know is that one of the guys is missing.

Steve Redgrave: You never want news like that

"If the reports are true and someone is presumed drowned then that is devastating. I feel for his parents and rowing colleagues, you never want news like that," he said.

The OULRC is a separate club from Oxford University's Boat Club and the Blues Eight, which competes in the Varsity Boat Race.

Their rowers, who must weigh under 11 stone, take on a Cambridge lightweight crew at Henley in March.

An Oxford University spokeswoman said it was not known when the squad would fly home from Spain.

An university official was expected to fly out and assist the local authorities with their inquiries.