The death of a man at cliffs in Co Antrim has left the local community in shock.
Emergency services scrambled to the man's aid at Blackhead Lighthouse, Whitehead, after a member of the public raised the alarm yesterday afternoon.
A Coastguard helicopter was flown in from Scotland to help lifeboat crews from Larne, Bangor and Portmuck.
Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, police, the fire service and ground paramedics were also involved in the rescue mission.
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But despite their best efforts they were unable to save him.
Police Inspector Mick Wood: “Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man after a body was recovered from the water near the Blackhead Path, Whitehead on Tuesday, April 2.
“A postmortem will be carried out in due course. There are no further details at this time.”
UUP Larne Lough councillor Mark McKinty said the local community is in shock following the tragedy.
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He added: “It is very sad. I would like to send my condolences to the family, friends and the whole community.
“When you see the helicopter arriving you don’t know exactly what is happening.
“I was speaking to a lady who was fundraising for Northern Ireland Air Ambulance last week and she said she never expected to see them in the area so soon.
“People are very shocked.”
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A Belfast coastguard spokesperson added: “Ambulance contacted us and requested assistance after a member of the public saw him fall and go into the water.
“Coastguard were on the scene extremely quickly and searching.
“The man was recovered by Bangor lifeboat crew.”
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A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesperson said they were called “an ongoing incident at Blackhead Lighthouse, Whitehead” at 12.08pm yesterday (Tuesday 02 April 2019).
“NIAS dispatched one Emergency crew to the scene,” they added.
“The Charity Air Ambulance was also dispatched to the incident.”
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