There were calls tonight for a review of safety precautions on Northern Ireland beaches after a tourism chief died in a drowning accident.
Father-of-three David Roulston (46) a executive with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board died while bodyboarding on the north coast.
He got into difficulties a short distance off shore at Benone Strand, near Castlerock, Co Derry on Monday afternoon.
His wife Julie, who was on the shoreline, raised the alarm but it was an hour before her husband's body was recovered from the sea.
John Dallat, SDLP Assembly member for the area and a member of Coleraine Borough Council, said there should be an inquiry into the accident and a review of whether lifeguards should be provided on beaches.
Coleraine Council defended their beach safety procedures and said they provided five beach attendants along the north coast.
But Mr Dallat said: "The beach attendants are really first-aiders with additional duties for chasing away the horses and watching those who play with dogs. "They are no substitute for a comprehensive support system involving land, sea and air."
He added: "We need a comprehensive review - we need to be talking about professional lifeguards who are part of the emergency services - as happens on the continent and eastern Europe".
Defending the safety measures provided by the council, director of leisure services Jim Curry said: "These beach attendants have the same skills and attributes as lifeguards only they don't go into the water."
Mr Curry said the council reviewed its services every month and held a major review at the end of each summer season.