A post mortem is due to be carried out today on the body of a father-of-two who died after he fell from a cruiser into Lough Neagh.

Relatives of Martin Wylie — who had been hoping he would be found alive and well — stood distraught on the shore of Lough Neagh yesterday morning as news broke that a body had been discovered, over 12 hours after he was last seen.

Tributes were last night paid to the 43-year-old, who was from the Stewartstown area of Co Tyrone, after local people discovered his body during a massive search operation.

A friend, who did not want to be named, said Mr Wylie, who worked in the construction industry and was also a fisherman, was a “well-respected member of the community” and that he will be “sorely missed”.

He continued: “Martin was a very quiet man. He was into his dogs and shooting. I can’t believe it. It’s a terrible shock and a terrible thing to happen to the family, especially at this time of the year.”

Meanwhile, SDLP MLA for the area Patsy McGlone said: “On behalf of the entire community in the area I extend sincere sympathies to Martin’s immediate family and the entire Wylie family circle, whom I know very well.

“They are respected in the area and this tragedy has touched the entire loughshore community. I know that everyone’s thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time as they come to terms with this family loss.”

Mr McGlone visited the Wylie family yesterday morning as the search continued and he said they were hoping Mr Wylie would be found alive.

However, shortly after 11.15am yesterday police confirmed a body had been recovered along the shore of Lough Neagh.

It is thought Mr Wylie — a father of two teenage girls aged 15 and 18 — may have slipped into the water and two friends onboard the vessel were unable to save him. It is understood he was not wearing a lifejacket at the time.

The pair threw lifejackets into the water in a bid to save him but he disappeared.

Mid-Ulster UUP MLA Billy Armstrong also extended his condolences to the Wylie family: “I was very sad to learn of the death of Mr Wylie in such tragic circumstances.”