Oxford Rower Feared Dead in Spain Boating Mishap

An Oxford University lightweight rower was missing in Spain’s Ebro River on Friday and was feared dead after the British crew’s boat capsized in turbulent waters, rescue workers said.

The missing rower from Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club, which was holding a training session in Spain, was identified as Leo John Blockley.

Officials said a search was called off due to darkness Friday but would begin at first light today with a helicopter, boats and teams combing the riverbanks.

“We could not use the helicopter until late afternoon because of the weather, but it should fly again [today],” a spokeswoman for emergency services in Catalonia said. “We will also have several boats and people walking the riverside in case his body washes up.”

The British boat was one of three vessels attempting to cross the Ebro River, which is about 1,000 feet wide at that point, an emergency services spokesman in Amposta said.

Amposta is about 220 miles east of Madrid, near where the Ebro reaches the Mediterranean in northeastern Spain. Heavy rain and snow in northern Spain in recent days have swollen water levels, and high winds have churned up strong waves.

Axel Muller, a Spanish national team coach who was training with the Oxford club, said by telephone that the weather was not particularly bad at the start of training.

“We had had two normal training sessions, and when we went out there was just a light breeze,” Muller said.

“The wind rose up, and water came on to the boat. The normal procedure is to leave the boat and wait to be rescued. The crew were rescued quickly, but two people decided to swim to the bank, and one of them didn’t arrive.”

Nine rowers--seven men and two women--were treated for hypothermia at a hospital in Amposta, said the head of emergency services for the hospital.

“They were warmed up, given something to eat and they then left the hospital by their own means,” the doctor said.

The regional government of Catalonia had issued a series of warnings that winds could reach 60 mph.