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Search teams find body in lough Father of two dies in lough fall
(about 6 hours later)
A body has been found during a search of Lough Neagh for a man reported as falling overboard from a boat. The man who died after falling from a fishing crusier in Lough Neagh on Monday night was Martin Wylie, a father of two from County Tyrone
He fell from a cabin cruiser near Kells Point at about 2100 GMT on Monday. The cruiser's crew of two tried to throw the man lifejackets, but failed. Mr Wylie had lived by and worked on the lough all his life. He fell as the boat returned to a quay near Ardboe.
The two friends he was with did their best to save him, throwing a lifebelt and trying to turn and get him, but by the time they did, he was gone.
His body was found after a search resumed on Tuesday morning.
Mr Wylie, described as a popular and competent fisherman, had two daughters.
One theory is that he may have slipped on ice at the stern of the boat as he prepared to help tie it up at about 2100 GMT on Monday.
A rescue operation was launched with Coastguard co-ordination, but ended at 2322 GMT with water temperatures dropping to four degrees Celsius.A rescue operation was launched with Coastguard co-ordination, but ended at 2322 GMT with water temperatures dropping to four degrees Celsius.
A search by local fisherman and lifeboat crews began on Tuesday. Scores of locals turned out to help the police and coastguard in the resumed search for Mr Wylie on Tuesday morning.
A body was recovered at about 1115 GMT and a post mortem examination will be carried out later. It was one of the volunteer teams which recovered his body at about 1115 GMT.
Lifeboats
The Lough Neagh Independent Rescue Lifeboats from Ardboe on the western shore and Kinnego in the southern end of the lough were sent by the Coastguard to the area on Monday night and the police helicopter also joined the search.The Lough Neagh Independent Rescue Lifeboats from Ardboe on the western shore and Kinnego in the southern end of the lough were sent by the Coastguard to the area on Monday night and the police helicopter also joined the search.
Shoreline searches were carried out by the Kinnego Coastguard Team along with lifeboat shore crews from Ardboe. Fire crews from Cookstown also joined the search.Shoreline searches were carried out by the Kinnego Coastguard Team along with lifeboat shore crews from Ardboe. Fire crews from Cookstown also joined the search.
Belfast Coastguard Watch Manager Steve Palmer said more than a mile of water and shoreline were searched using illumination from the police helicopter.Belfast Coastguard Watch Manager Steve Palmer said more than a mile of water and shoreline were searched using illumination from the police helicopter.
"Despite the valiant efforts of all concerned we did not manage to find the man who had fallen overboard," he said."Despite the valiant efforts of all concerned we did not manage to find the man who had fallen overboard," he said.
PraisePraise
"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. "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 Coastguard's sympathies to the family of the missing man involved in this extremely unfortunate accident."
Parish priest Father Seamus McGinley said it was "a testing time" for the family.Parish priest Father Seamus McGinley said it was "a testing time" for the family.
"There is a feeling of disbelief and devastation, especially at this time of year."There is a feeling of disbelief and devastation, especially at this time of year.
"Coming into the season of Christmas, the thoughts and prayers of the whole community are with the family. They are just still holding out hope that a positive result will come." "Coming into the season of Christmas, the thoughts and prayers of the whole community are with the family."
Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the British Isles. It has had a voluntary rescue team since 1989.Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the British Isles. It has had a voluntary rescue team since 1989.