Boatmen on a popular river fear a tragedy is waiting to happen after plucking capsized canoers and kayakers from the water.

They say it follows a huge increase in the number of leisure users on the River Stour in Canterbury, some of whom are not wearing life-jackets.

The main area of activity is between Grove Ferry and Fordwich, where retired probation officer Stuart Cullen keeps his boat at the Port Farm mooring at Upstreet.

He says he has had to pull several people from the river and now worries someone could die.

“I have had a boat here for years and have never seen anything like it,” he said.

“There has been an explosion of people on the river in all sorts of craft, some of whom have obviously never been out on the water before.

“Quite a few of us have had to pull people out of the water after they capsized.

“We also have to be very careful when out on our boats because they are all over the river.

“I came across two paddle boarders, each on opposite sides, who I had to avoid so they weren’t squeezed into the reeds.

“It’s only a matter of time before someone is hurt or worse.”

Fellow boat owner Albert Fright has been cruising on the Stour for 23 years and says many new leisure users, especially those in canoes and kayaks, “haven’t a clue” about the waterway and safety.

“They are all over the place,” he said.

“I saw one family in a canoe with a young baby on board.

“We even had a bloke in a speedboat belting up the river who could have hit anyone and, I believe, has now been reported.

“It’s become a real danger because some aren’t wearing life jackets and there will be a tragedy.

“There really should be a safety boat on patrol.”

Just two weeks ago another boatman, Darren Williamson, came to the rescue of a woman he saw in the water clinging to a canoe.

“We helped her into my boat and she said it was the second time she had capsized that day,” he said.

“But she was cold and tired and we took her back to Grove Ferry.

“It’s happening all the time and is a big worry.”

Much of the water leisure activity is organised from Grove Ferry by Canoe Wild, which boss Andrew Mangnall says operates with the highest safety standards.

A qualified instructor, Mr Mangnall says the business is accredited by British Canoeing and the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.

“We are extremely safety conscious and all our customers have a briefing with dos and don’ts before going out on the water and have to wear a buoyancy aid,” he said.

“It is not a requirement that they can swim because they have lifejackets and the river is slow flowing.”

Mr Mangnall says he has seen a big increase in demand, especially coming out of the Covid-19 lockdown when people have been encouraged to do more outdoor activities.

He said: “It’s a great way for people to get exercise while enjoying nature in a environmentally-friendly way. Sometimes people capsize but that’s the nature of canoeing and kayaking.

“We work with lots of schools and run courses. It offers great educational opportunities for young people.”

Mr Mangnall says many people are launching their own canoes and kayaks into the river, which he cannot be responsible for.

But he is not inclined to run a safety boat up and down the river.

“I just don’t think it's necessary and we really don’t want to be running an engine and putting more fuel into the river,” he added.

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