Northern Ireland

Jogger dies after collapsing on riverside towpath in Lisburn

The death of a man on Saturday is not being treated as suspicious. Picture by Ann McManus
The death of a man on Saturday is not being treated as suspicious. Picture by Ann McManus The death of a man on Saturday is not being treated as suspicious. Picture by Ann McManus

FRANTIC attempts were made to resuscitate a jogger who collapsed and later died on the Lagan Towpath at Lisburn.

It is understood a member of the Phoenix Cycling Club in Belfast initially found the man, believed to be in his thirties, on the ground in his running gear on Saturday afternoon and attempted CPR while contacting emergency services.

Paramedics and police then attended, however, it is believed the man died at the scene.

An area of the towpath, close to the Hillhall estate was sealed off according to eye witnesses.

The man had apparently been jogging in the area before falling ill. A postmortem examination was due to be carried out yesterday to determine the cause of death. No details about the man’s identity have been released.

A PSNI spokesman confirmed: “Police in Lisburn attended the scene of the sudden death of a man on the towpath on Saturday 11th June. A postmortem examination will be carried out, however, the death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.”

DUP councillor Rhoda Walker for Lisburn South said it was “very sad” that the man had passed away after seemingly being involved in exercise on the towpath.

“I would pass on my sympathies to the family at this terribly sad time,” she said.

The Lagan Towpath is an 11-mile riverside stretch from Belfast to Lisburn and is a popular route for walkers, runners and cyclists in the local area.