This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6539699.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Funeral of lake tragedy teenagers | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Hundreds of people have gathered for the funerals of two teenage cousins who drowned at the weekend after their canoe capsized on a County Down lake. | |
The bodies of Rory McAlinden, 18, and Claire Steele, 16, were found in Castlewellan Lake by divers on Saturday morning after a 10-hour search. | |
They were described by their brothers as the best of friends. | |
James Steele and Brian McAlinden said Rory held onto his cousin "until the end" while they were in the water. | James Steele and Brian McAlinden said Rory held onto his cousin "until the end" while they were in the water. |
Members of local sports teams have lined the streets in Castlewellan of the funeral route. | |
The cousins went missing in the water at Castlewellan Forest Park at about 0100 BST on Saturday. | |
A third person in the canoe managed to swim ashore and dial 999. | A third person in the canoe managed to swim ashore and dial 999. |
Friends and relatives mounted a vigil at the lakeside as their bodies were recovered by a search party. | |
Laurence Cummings of the Coastguard said the cousins were found by a local dive team at about 1100 BST on Saturday. | Laurence Cummings of the Coastguard said the cousins were found by a local dive team at about 1100 BST on Saturday. |
The coastguard, the police and the fire and rescue service had all been involved in the search. A police helicopter was also used in the operation. | The coastguard, the police and the fire and rescue service had all been involved in the search. A police helicopter was also used in the operation. |
An Easter Sunday parade in Castlewellan was cancelled as a mark of respect to the two cousins. | An Easter Sunday parade in Castlewellan was cancelled as a mark of respect to the two cousins. |
Prayers were also said for the teenagers at churches in the town on Sunday morning. | Prayers were also said for the teenagers at churches in the town on Sunday morning. |