RESCUE TEAMS searching for a man who fell off a boat on Lough Neagh on Monday night located a body at about midday yesterday. He was named as Martin Wylie, a father of two.
He fell off a cruiser near Kells Point, close to Ardboe in Co Tyrone at about 9pm. Crew members tried to rescue him, but he was reported to have disappeared. A Coast Guard co-ordinated search was mounted involving a PSNI helicopter, local boats and a lifeboat, but it was called off before midnight.
Water temperature in the lough, the largest inland body of water in Britain and Ireland, was just four degrees. Lough Neagh independent rescue lifeboat spokesman Steve Palmer said: "Despite the valiant efforts of all concerned, we did not manage to find the man who had fallen overboard.
"I can only praise the efforts of all search units involved and had this person been visible at any time, the units would have probably located him. However, given the water and air temperatures at the time of the incident, it's unlikely that a person would survive in the water for any length of time. I'd like to offer the Coast Guard's sympathies to the family of the missing man involved in this extremely unfortunate accident."
SDLP Assembly member Patsy McGlone said he knew the family of the dead man. "They are respected in the area and this tragedy has touched the entire community. I know that everyone's thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time."