THE brother of a canoeist who died after getting trapped under his kayak in a flooded river has paid tribute to a “great friend”.

Chris Wheeler, 46, a member of Abingdon’s Kingfisher Canoe Club, was pulled from the River Dart, in Devon, on Saturday afternoon.

His brother Tim Wheeler said he had “achieved everything he set out to do in life”.

He said: “Chris was very thorough and detailed in all areas of his life.

“Everything had its place because he was so organised.

“If you ever needed something doing, you could rely on him to do it. That was just the type of person he was.”

Chris grew up with his two brothers, Tim and Philip, and parents Pamela and Gordon in their family home in Kennington.

After attending St Swithun’s Primary School in the village, he won a scholarship to Abingdon School before qualifying as a chartered surveyor at Reading University.

Tim said: “Chris got where he was thanks to his work ethic and drive.

“He deserved his success and created a good life for himself and those around him.

“While he was widely respected at work, he was also very popular in his social life, particularly with the Kingfisher Canoe Club.”

Chris lived with his partner of 14 years, Julia Hopkinson, in Reading.

Mr Wheeler added: “Julia was his soulmate.

“The more we got to know her, the more we realised how perfect they were for one another.

“Their home life together was clearly a very happy one and he was a very content man.

“Everybody who knew Chris will miss him very much. He was a great friend.”

Chris was a chartered surveyor at property firm Cluttons, in Seacourt Tower, Botley, Oxford, for 10 years. He was also a qualified instructor with 25 years’ kayaking experience.

A date and location for his funeral has yet to be picked.