Canoeist loses fight for life

One of two army canoeists rescued in Co Down has died in hospital.

An Army canoeist died in hospital and a colleague was seriously ill after their boat capsized off the Northern Ireland coast today.

The men were reported missing in Murlough Bay off the Co Down coastline.

A third canoeist raised the alarm after swimming for 40 minutes to shore and running for two miles.

A rescue operation was launched by the coastguard.

The canoeists were eventually found by a rescue helicopter from the Irish Coastguards and the crew of the Newcastle Lifeboat from Co Down pulled them both out of the water.

The canoeists were taken to Daisy Hill Hospital in the border town of Newry in Co Down.

Coastguards in Belfast were alerted at about 11.20am that canoeists were in difficulties.

The two men were spotted by chance by members of the Newcastle Coastguard.

Coastguard member John Lowry said: "One of my colleagues was watching a seagull flying away when we noticed there were two objects in the water.

"The helicopter and lifeboats were despatched to the area and the people were recovered."

The identity of the dead canoeist has not been released.