Police in Northern Ireland have described as 'a tragic accident' the deaths of two young cousins in a lake in Co Down early today.
The bodies of Rory McAlinden, aged 18, and 16-year-old Clare Steele, from Castlewellan, were recovered from the lake waters at Castlewellan Forest Park, this morning around ten hours after their canoe capsized.
Three teenagers had gone on the lake late last night.
After the accident, one of them swam ashore and raised the alarm, at around 1am this morning.
The Irish Coast Guard, specialist dog units and diving teams began a search as scores of people, including family and friends, gathered at the waterside.
Divers recovered the bodies around 40 feet from the shore.
Superintendent Peter Loughins said the local community was in a state of shock.
