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Canoeist dies in Bann accident Son sees father drown in river
(about 18 hours later)
A man has died following a canoeing accident in County Londonderry on Sunday. A canoeist who drowned in the River Bann on Sunday was leading a group including his son across a dangerous weir when his canoe overturned.
At about 1400 GMT emergency services were alerted that a canoeist had been seen in difficulty at Carnroe Lock on the Lower Bann, near Kilrea. Stephen Chapman, a university administrator, fell from his boat and was trapped in the water at Carnroe Lock on Sunday at about 1400 GMT.
A short time later, the body of a man, believed to be in his late 40s, was recovered from the water. Despite frantic efforts by emergency workers and a doctor who was also in the canoe team, he died.
Police have said they do not believe there were any suspicious circumstances surrounding the man's death. Mr Chapman, who was in his 40s, lived with his family in Coleraine.
He was head of administration in the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences at the University of Ulster's Coleraine campus.
'Professional'
Sean McCarry, regional commander of the Community Rescue Team, said Mr Chapman was a senior member of the Causeway Coast Kayak Association and a very experienced canoeist.
"It was a very professional team. He was the leader of the group of five people. When they came to the weir, they had stopped for lunch," he said.
"He waited for the others to pass through. Then he was thrown out of the canoe and became caught in the undertow of the weir. He didn't surface for some time."
Local farmers helped the emergency workers to get through the water near Kilrea to help Mr Chapman. A doctor tried for 35 minutes to resuscitate him on the river bank.
Mr McCarry said the group were often on the river and were always very well behaved and well trained.
He said it was "an awful tragedy".