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Man dies after falling into sea near Portstewart harbour | Man dies after falling into sea near Portstewart harbour |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man has died after falling into the sea near Portstewart harbour in County Londonderry. | A man has died after falling into the sea near Portstewart harbour in County Londonderry. |
He was Stanley Duncan, 57, from Comber, who was chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland. | He was Stanley Duncan, 57, from Comber, who was chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) in Northern Ireland. |
Mr Duncan had been fishing at rocks close to Harbour Hill shortly before 17:00 BST on Tuesday when the incident happened. | Mr Duncan had been fishing at rocks close to Harbour Hill shortly before 17:00 BST on Tuesday when the incident happened. |
Other fishermen held onto him while emergency teams were called. | Other fishermen held onto him while emergency teams were called. |
The father-of-two was recovered from the water by the Portrush inshore lifeboat and taken to the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. | The father-of-two was recovered from the water by the Portrush inshore lifeboat and taken to the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. |
Chris Little from Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Team said: "The lifeboat was able to recover him very quickly. | Chris Little from Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Team said: "The lifeboat was able to recover him very quickly. |
"His location had been given very clearly by the person who made the initial call. With sea conditions being very calm, it was quite easy to see. | "His location had been given very clearly by the person who made the initial call. With sea conditions being very calm, it was quite easy to see. |
"Two people who had been fishing near the gentleman had gone to his assistance and managed to hold him against the rocks until the lifeboat crew could recover him. | "Two people who had been fishing near the gentleman had gone to his assistance and managed to hold him against the rocks until the lifeboat crew could recover him. |
"He received immediate attention before being transferred to the Causeway Hospital." | "He received immediate attention before being transferred to the Causeway Hospital." |
Shock | Shock |
Mr Little said that sea conditions were good on Tuesday and it was unlikely that the man had been swept into the water by a wave. | Mr Little said that sea conditions were good on Tuesday and it was unlikely that the man had been swept into the water by a wave. |
"It seems more likely that, for some reason, he fell in," he said. | "It seems more likely that, for some reason, he fell in," he said. |
Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Team, the RNLI inshore lifeboat from Portrush, Portstewart RNLI beach lifeguards and the Irish Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Sligo all attended the scene. | Coleraine Coastguard Rescue Team, the RNLI inshore lifeboat from Portrush, Portstewart RNLI beach lifeguards and the Irish Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Sligo all attended the scene. |
Environment Minister Alex Attwood said Mr Duncan would be greatly missed. | |
"I have worked with Stanley Duncan for the last two years and he was well known to my assembly colleagues," he said. | |
"He knew the importance and value of the work of the DVA, in particular the DVA centre in Coleraine. He was committed to the DVA and committed to the public service." | |
Mr Duncan had been a member of the Crescent Church in Comber for many years, latterly as a church elder. | |
David Farrell from the church said everyone was shocked by the death. | David Farrell from the church said everyone was shocked by the death. |
He was a "great friend, a man you could trust and who was loved by everybody". | He was a "great friend, a man you could trust and who was loved by everybody". |
"He was engaged in activities ranging from youth work, right through to working with the elderly. | "He was engaged in activities ranging from youth work, right through to working with the elderly. |
"He'll be very, very sorely missed by us as a congregation." | "He'll be very, very sorely missed by us as a congregation." |
Three former environment ministers paid tribute to Mr Duncan. | Three former environment ministers paid tribute to Mr Duncan. |
In a joint statement, the DUP's Arlene Foster, Edwin Poots and Sammy Wilson said: "The news of Stanley's death has come as a great shock and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time. | In a joint statement, the DUP's Arlene Foster, Edwin Poots and Sammy Wilson said: "The news of Stanley's death has come as a great shock and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time. |
"We always found Stanley to be a very reliable and honourable man and he will be greatly missed by all those who came into contact with him." | "We always found Stanley to be a very reliable and honourable man and he will be greatly missed by all those who came into contact with him." |