The body of a police officer has been discovered on a picturesque UK beach, according to local reports. The remains of the man, understood to have been a detective inspector, were found on Sunday at Whiterocks Beach outside Portrush, Co Antrim, in Northern Ireland.
Police cordons were in place, and the public was asked to avoid the area. Richard Stewart, the deputy mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, appealed for privacy for the family. He expressed his sadness at the news and praised the work of the emergency services.
Mr Stewart said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased at what will be an incredibly difficult and distressing time for them.
“I also want to pay tribute to the emergency services and all those involved in responding to the incident with professionalism, dignity and care.
“I would ask people to respect the privacy of the family as investigations continue.”
Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, a man’s body was found in the water in Kilbroney Park on the Shore Road in Rostrevor at around 8.45am on Sunday.
A police spokesperson said: “A post-mortem examination will take place in due course… The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe called it “incredibly sad news”.
She added: “My thoughts and prayers are with the family friends of this man as well as with those who discovered him and the emergency services who attended.”