AN IRISHMAN has died while kayaking in Ecuador.
19-year-old Alex McGourty from Sligo was kayaking with a group when they got caught up in a flash-flood on the River Abanico.
Another Irishman, David Higgins, and two Ecuadorian men are still missing. A fifth member of the group has been found alive.
Alex was a trainee-instructor at Sligo Kayak Club, and the club issued a statement confirming his death and paying tribute to a “one of the finest young men we had the honour of knowing and paddling with.”
“The club would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathies to Alex’s parents Frankie and Eilish, his family and his friends.
“Their empty kayaks have been found…We believe the whole team was caught by a flash flood in a very remote part of Ecuador.
“Alex will be greatly missed by all in Sligo Kayak Club.”
The search is continuing for the three missing men, and the Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to Ecuador.
