THE shock death of a competitor forced the abandonment of Europe's longest raft race down the River Wye on Golden Jubilee Monday.

Four hundred rafters were gearing up for an exciting third and final day when race veteran Richard Collison, 48, suffered a heart attack in his tent.

An ambulance was called to the Huntsham campsite on the banks of the Wye where medics worked on Mr Collison for more than an hour before he was declared dead at 11.20am.

The popular competitor's death resulted in an unprecedented but unanimous decision by the rest of the field that the race, which began on Saturday in Hay-on-Wye, was over.

The tragedy has put the future of the 24-year race in jeopardy coming on the back of last year's cancellation due to foot and mouth.

Thousands of spectators had cheered the crews from the banks as they snaked their way through the county before it was abandoned.

Chairman of race organisers, Committee for Herefordshire Amateur Rafters (CHAR), Trish Hales paid tribute to her friend Mr Collison.

"The grief and shock that went through the campsite was unbelievable," she said.

Prayer service

"When the ambulance left we had a meeting and a small prayer service and discussed what we wanted to do. Everybody agreed that the race had ended. Words cannot express what it feels like for this to happen. There were 400 rafters camped there and everyone was comforting each other, we were one whole community."

Mr Collison, of Tring in Hertfordshire, was a raft race competitor of many years standing who came to Herefordshire with three 'Wonder Y' teams. He was captaining a novice team, The Dragon Boaters, who he had trained himself.

"They said the only thing we have to be aware of is that he would have wanted it to happen here doing something he loved," said Trish. "We had to get the rafts out of the water at Huntsham and everyone just said we will help each other. Competition doesn't matter anymore when something like this happens.''

While it is assumed the thousands of pounds raised for elderly and disabled charities, including Herefordshire and Worcestershire Dial A Ride, will be honoured by sponsors there is concern over the financial impact on CHAR as a club.

No trophies were awarded out of respect for Richard Collison but leading the 26 crews at the time of the abandonment was Herefordshire Farmerz, a six-man team from Orcop.