Man dies, woman critical after lake fall

A man has died and a woman is in a critical condition after they fell into a hotel's fishing lake, police said today.

Police were called to Tinhay Lake, in Lifton, Devon just before 1am today, after a report that the pair had tumbled into the water.

Police, fire and ambulance crews went to the three-acre lake, owned by the Arundell Arms which advertises itself as "one of Britain's premier fishing hotels".

A woman in her 30s was pulled from the water, which can reach 90ft deep, by people at the scene and taken to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth by RAF helicopter.

She is in a critical condition this morning.

After an "extensive search" for the man, aged around 50, involving 30 police officers, divers and a helicopter, a body was found at 5.20am.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: "We are conducting inquiries into the incident but, at this time, this appears to be a tragic accident with no suspicious circumstances."

The private lake, at the bottom of the village was formerly a limestone quarry. Its water is described as "gin-clear" and boasts "superb" stocks of brown and rainbow trout up to 10lbs.

The hotel's visitors also enjoy shooting, horse-riding and birdwatching.