Northern Ireland

Man dies while out walking at popular tourist spot in Co Fermanagh

The man died after falling ill on the Cuilcagh Mountain walkway in Co Fermanagh
The man died after falling ill on the Cuilcagh Mountain walkway in Co Fermanagh The man died after falling ill on the Cuilcagh Mountain walkway in Co Fermanagh

A MAN has died while walking at a popular tourist spot in Co Fermanagh.

The 51-year-old is believed to have suffered a suspected heart attack at around 12.20pm yesterday while walking along the board walk on Cuilcagh Mountain, close to the border with Co Cavan.

Inspector Andy Hood said: “Other members of the man’s walking group and two off-duty medical professionals came to his aid and then CPR was taken over by the ambulance crew. Sadly, he was pronounced dead a short time later.

 “A postmortem is due to be carried out, but we are not treating the death as suspicious at this time.

 “We would like to record statements from all those who witnessed the incident and would ask that the two medical professionals who kindly helped this gentleman to get in touch with police in Enniskillen on 101."

North-West Mountain Rescue said it had been asked to assist by police in an area where the “terrain made it difficult” for emergency vehicles to access.

In a Facebook post, the group wrote: “NWMRT then helped with the extraction off the mountain and we would like to offer our condolences and sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.”

The walkway was opened in July 2015 and has proved popular, with around 24,000 people visiting in 2016, an eight-fold increase on previous years.

Last year the car park was shut for around a month due to a land dispute with a farmer.