Boat tragedy injured discharged

Wreckage of the boat floats on the water

Three men injured in a boating tragedy off the County Antrim coast in which another man died, have been discharged from hospital.

The four friends were tipped into the water when their fishing boat capsized after hitting rocks on its way back to Portballintrae at about 1730 BST on Friday.

A man in his 50s died in the accident, while the other three men were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia.

Holidaymaker Tom Place watched the accident as it happened.

"A freak wave hit it broadside and it just disintegrated," he said.

"It smashed into pieces - the large wave went right over it, and the next I saw, there were pieces of debris in the water and people bobbing about in the water.

"I think there were four people who ended up in the water, some of them clinging to pieces of debris.

"Very quickly, a white boat came out from the harbour and started to throw lifeaids into the water."

Coastguard watch manager Diane Gadd said: "They hit the rocks off Portballintrae, the boat sank and they were thrown into the water.

"Four people were recovered but sadly there was one fatality."