THE body of a man was recovered last night from a lake at a golf course in Co Antrim.
It is understood two men, in scuba diving equipment, were searching the lake for golf balls when one got into difficulty.
They entered the water after 9am yesterday at the Hilton Templepatrick golf course, off Paradise Walk.
A PSNI spokesperson told the Irish News that a report of a man in difficulty in the lake was made shortly after 2pm.
"Police and other emergency services responded. Sadly, a man's body was later recovered from the water," the spokesperson said, adding: "The local council have been made aware."
A spokesperson for the NI Fire and Rescue Service said a "specialist rescue team" was sent to the course, alongside two appliances from Antrim.
The Air Ambulance was also sent to the scene alongside paramedics, but a spokesperson for the NI Ambulance Service said last night: "No-one was taken from the scene."
Local Ulster Unionist Party councillor Paul Michael said: "This is a shocking, tragic incident and people in the area and beyond will find it hard to take in. My thoughts tonight are with the family of the man who has lost his life in such a way, and they will be facing a difficult period ahead."
The 200-acre hotel and golf course site was sold in August to the Loughview Leisure Group for an undisclosed sum. The Antrim-based company has added it to its portfolio of hotels, which also includes Ten Square in Belfast, and Carrick's Loughshore Hotel.
The golf course, which was opened in 1999, has a number of lakes and sits alongside the Six Mile Water.
The hotel was contacted for comment last night.
www.irishnews.com
