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Co Tyrone student dies suddenly in south Belfast

A man has died suddenly in south Belfast 
A man has died suddenly in south Belfast  A man has died suddenly in south Belfast 

A CO TYRONE student has died suddenly in Belfast.

The man was named locally as 19-year-old Christopher McGettigan from Castlederg.

Police said officers were told of the sudden death of a man in a property on Eglantine Avenue at about 2pm on Thursday.

It is understood Mr McGettigan had been on a night out with friends on Wednesday evening.

Police said a postmortem examination is due to carried out but the death is not being treated as suspicious.    

Castlederg parish priest Fr Colm O’Doherty, who has been in contact with the McGettigan family, said the news was “heartbreaking”.

It is understood Mr McGettigan was in his second year at university.

“Christopher was the youngest and the baby of the family. He would have been involved in the parish and was part of the community, he was a very nice fellow,” Fr O’Doherty said. 

“I was talking to his mother yesterday. She is heartbroken.”

Sinn Féin councillor Ruairi McHugh said the town was stunned by Mr McGettigan’s death.

“It’s very, very sad for the McGettigan family,” he said.

“It’s always a tragedy when anyone’s child dies but it’s especially poignant at this time of year.

“I am sure that the community in Castlederg will rally around the family.”