28/11/2002

Teenager dies after boat capsizes

A Maghera teenager has died following a boating accident in Lough Neagh yesterday.

Paddy Kelly, who was 17, was with his friend and uncle when their open boat capsized in six-foot swells during stormy weather.

While both his uncle and friend reached the shore relatively safely, the teenager was found unconscious on the lough shore.

Paramedics who arrived at the scene gave the boy first aid before taking him to Mid-Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Coastguard, an army helicopter and police were all involved in the search operation which began at around 9am yesterday morning.

The three men had been on an early morning duck-shooting trip when tragedy struck.

An ambulance spokesman described yesterday's conditions on the lough as "horrendous".

He said that emergency services had done everything possible to resuscitate the teenager, but to no avail.

(MB)

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