Tributes to lake accident victim

Mr Wilkinson died despite the efforts of air ambulance paramedics

Tributes have been paid to a "devoted family man" who died trying to save his teenager daughter, after their boat capsized on a Northumberland lake.

Geoff Wilkinson, from Kirkwhelpington, near Hexham, suffered a heart attack trying to rescue Victoria, 17, at an event on Kielder Reservoir on Sunday.

Colleagues at Cumbria County Council, where the 52-year-old was a solicitor, said they had been left devastated.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is investigating.

Victoria is in a "critical but stable" condition at Newcastle General Hospital.

Her family, including mother Catherine, a local GP, are understood to be at her bedside.

The father and daughter were taking part in a race organised by Kielder Water Sailing Club when their Laser Stratos dinghy toppled over after it was hit by a gust of wind.

Kielder Water is northern Europe's largest man-made lake

Jill Stannard, acting chief executive of Cumbria County Council, said: "Geoff made a wonderful contribution to the safety of children throughout Cumbria during his years at the county council.

"Obviously we are all devastated by Geoff's tragic death and while we mourn the loss of a great friend our immediate thoughts are with his family and friends.

"He was a devoted family man who was extremely professional, vastly experienced and committed to the legal profession."

Mr Wilkinson had just been promoted to a new position as group solicitor for children's services.

Despite being pulled to safety by a rescue boat, attempts to revive the father-of-three failed and he died later in hospital.