17 canoeists rescued from Lough Neagh

Fourteen teenagers and two adults were rescued tonight after getting into trouble while out canoeing in Northern Ireland.

Emergency services mounted a major operation in heavy rain and poor visibility on the western side of Lough Neagh, near Ardboe, Co Tyrone.

Nine of the group were later treated in hospital suffering slight exposure.

At one stage three lifeboats and a police helicopter were involved in getting the party ashore. They were in a number of canoes.

Ambulances were unable to reach them because there was no road access. Instead crews had to wait until the group climbed aboard the boats and were then taken to Ardboe, about two miles from an area of the lough known as Blackers Rock where they called for help at teatime.

The nine were treated at Antrim area hospital.

PA