Man's body taken from Carlingford Lough

A man's body was today pulled from Carlingford Lough following a police chase in Northern Ireland.

A man's body was today pulled from Carlingford Lough following a police chase in Northern Ireland.

He had jumped into the lough near Warrenpoint, Co Down in a bid to escape officers who stopped his car.

Investigators from Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan's office have launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding his death.

It is understood police followed the man, aged in his 40s, after a taxi driver alerted them to a speeding car. They managed to halt the car at around 5am, but he ran from the scene close to the town's swimming pool towards the lough.

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Coastguard and lifeboat crews were scrambled in a bid to locate the man who was dressed in black jeans and fleece top. A rescue helicopter was also summoned from Dublin to help in the search.

A Coastguard spokesman said: "The man was treading water but he suddenly disappeared from sight. "

A search commenced of the immediate water and the Kilkeel Coastguard sighted something in the water.

"They got the lifeboat to investigate it; it was the missing person.

"He was taken ashore at Warrenpoint and pronounced dead by the police doctor."

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokeswoman said they could not comment while an Ombudsman's investigation was underway.