A bank holiday trip turned to horror when Dan Davies tripped and lost his footing at High Force, near Barnard Castle, before falling into the waterfall last May.

Mr Davies, 30, from Jarrow, fell on to a ledge before being swept away by strong currents in the River Tees.
The Nissan car worker was looking for stones for the couple's fish tank when he lost his footing.

It is believed he died instantly when his head struck a rock, despite a man diving into the river in a bid to save him.

This week, partner Karen Fegan visited High Force exactly one year after the tragedy.

She said: "It was very emotional, but I felt it was just something I had to do.

"I went along with my mother and just wanted to talk to Dan where the accident happened.

"Although it was upsetting, it made me feel better afterwards."

The couple, who had lived together for a year, got engaged just months before the tragedy.

Ms Fegan, 36, a Jobcentre adviser, who has two children from a previous relationship, revealed she has moved from the house she shared with her late partner, in Lambton Terrace, Jarrow. "It doesn't seem like a year since the accident. I'm still living in South Tyneside and still have my job, and am trying to make a fresh start."