Tributes paid to doctor who died in Yorkshire bridge fall

Tributes have been paid to the doctor who died after plunging 15m from Dibbles Bridge on Sunday morning.

Consultant cardiologist Dr George Ballard is thought to have collided with the parapet wall on the notorious bridge as he travelled towards Grassington and fell to the stream below, suffering fatal injuries.

Dr Ballard was described by a colleague as an 'outstanding doctor' and a 'quick wit.

"George’s tragic and untimely death has deeply shocked his friends and colleagues," Dr Yvette Oade, Chief medical officer for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, told the Telegraph and Angus.

"He was an outstanding doctor with a quick sense of humour, who will be sorely missed by staff, patients and families across Leeds and the wider region.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are very much with George’s family at this sad time."

In August 2014 another cyclist, James Nelson, died in the same spot having also hit the wall and dropped the 50ft to the stream below.

Commenting on the Skipton Cycling Club Facebook page, Richard Annable called on North Yorkshire County Council to improve safety on the bridge.

He wrote: "Can we not, as a club, lobby NYCC (I assume it's their responsibility) to do something about this? Surely they could put a line of barriers on top of the parapet wall. Given recent events, I would have thought this spot should have moved up towards the top of their list of priorities in terms of road safety spending.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which occurred around 8.30am on Sunday.

Anyone with information about the latest tragedy is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Traffic Constable Martin Mulcaster, or email Martin.Mulcaster@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or MCIT@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.