THE body of a man has been recovered from a river in Co Tyrone – the second death on the north’s waterways in three days.
Frank Donnelly fell into the River Blackwater in Benburb while fishing on Saturday afternoon.
It is thought that Mr Donnelly, who was in his fifties, may have suffered a heart attack but there were no further details on Sunday night.
It is understood he was originally from Armagh but had lived in the Moy and Benburb areas.
He is survived by a son and had become a grandfather a few months ago.
Woman who died after River Bann boat fall named as Edelle McGlade
One online tribute to Mr Donnelly described him as one of “life’s characters”.
Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew said her “thoughts and prayers are with the family who I am sure are heartbroken”.
“I am calling on everyone to be extremely careful and cautious during this current hot spell when in loughs and rivers,” she said.
Police said a body was “recovered from a river in Benburb” and that a postmortem examination would be carried out, although foul play is not suspected.
The ambulance service said it responded to a call about a “river incident” at around 12.45pm. The charity air ambulance was also sent but no-one was taken from the scene.
Funeral Mass for Mr Donnelly will be celebrated in St John’s Church, Moy at 11am on Tuesday, followed by interment in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Eskra.
His death comes days after Edelle McGlade lost her life when she fell from a boat at a marina in Portglenone, Co Antrim.
The mother-of-three, from Portstewart in Co Derry, is understood to have been preparing to get off a moored boat on the River Bann when the accident happened at about 1am on Thursday.
Ms McGlade was buried on Sunday in Agherton cemetery in Portstewart after Requiem Mass at Star of the Sea Church in the town.
