River Aire rescue turns to tragedy as Leeds woman dies after falling

A woman has died after falling into the River Aire and being swept by the current for around five miles.

The tragic incident happened yesterday (Thursday, May 24) as stormy weather raged across Leeds. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning across the country, warning that a month’s worth of rain will fall in just 42 hours.

The 30-year-old woman, unfortunately, died at the hospital. She was initially seen floating on the River Aire, close to Clarence Dock, at 1.36am. Emergency crews found her in the river near Woodlesford and rescued her from the swollen river banks before rushing her to hospital.

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West Yorkshire Police are still trying to establish how she ended up in the river. A spokesman for the force said: “The woman, who was in her thirties, sadly died in hospital yesterday afternoon.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish how she ended up in the river, but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances at this time.”

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