TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to a man who died trying to rescue his pet dog from a river in County Down, Northern Ireland.
56-year-old Arnie Clarke lost his life on Thursday, 13 February after he entered the Shimna River in an attempt to rescue his pet dog which had gotten into difficulties.
The river had become dangerously swollen due to heavy rainfall, and it's believed he slipped and fell into the river while attempting to save his pet.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirmed to The Belfast Telegraph that two crews and a charity air ambulance had been deployed at the time "but despite our best efforts the man's life could not be saved".
A second man was taken to Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for treatment, and it is believed he will make a full recovery.
The River Shimna in County Down, Northern Ireland, had become dangerously swollen due to bad weatherSpeaking to The Belfast Telegraph on Sunday, a friend told how Mr Clarke died trying to save his pet dog as it was just the type of person he was.
"It's an unbelievable tragedy," his friend, Gerard McAuley told the outlet, adding that he'll be missed by a lot of people.
"His dog went in and he went in after it and saved it - that was the type of him,"
"He'd gone walking at Tollymore Forest Park with [his partner] and her mother. He wasn't someone who took the dog for a walk down the street. He loved to go places."
"No-one had a bad word to say about Arnie, he'll be missed by a lot of people."
Mr Clarke, who is from County Antrim in Northern Ireland but who lived and worked in France, was laid to rest in his hometown today.
May he rest in peace.
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