VETERAN angler Denis Hughes (56) died yesterday after battling to land a monster pike at a lake in Co Monaghan. He struggled for 40 minutes to bring the 20 lob prize fish to the shore at Milltown lake near Castleblayney, where a competition was under way.
But as he succeeded in drawing in his catch - which qualified for the main award - the Geoghegan Cup - he collapsed.
The angling club secretary, Mr Frankie Poyutz, who summoned an ambulance, said last night: "It was only after he was taken to hospital that we learned he had landed the winner". He said the other competitors were shocked to learn of Mr Hughes' death at Monaghan General Hospital.
"He was a veteran competitor and a founder member of the club. A few years ago he landed the heaviest pike ever caught in the region - one weighing 37 lb."
Doctors believe the father of three may have died as a result of a ruptured artery.