A man in his 20s has been killed and another in his 40s was seriously injured by a falling tree as they worked in a park in Northern Ireland.

The pair are understood to have been contractors for Northern Ireland Water working in Slieve Gullion Park, near Newry, County Down, when the tree collapsed on Wednesday afternoon

Northern Ireland has been hit by winds of up to 91mph as Storm Ali batters the UK.

A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Police attended the sudden death of a man, aged in his 20s, in the Slieve Gullion Park, Drumintee Road area of Newry this afternoon.”

The force said there were no suspicious circumstances and the incident was being investigated by the region’s Health and Safety Executive.

Sinn Fein’s Megan Fearon, the Northern Ireland Assembly member for Newry and Armagh, expressed her condolences to the family and friends of a man who died.

She said: “The local community are shocked and saddened at the news that a man was tragically killed and another man injured after a tree fell on them at Slieve Gullion Forest Park today.

“I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this man at this difficult time. The thoughts of our entire community are with them.

“I also want to commend the emergency services for risking dangerous conditions to respond swiftly to this incident to help others.

“Storm Ali has already caused significant disruption and damage today as it makes its way across the island of Ireland.

“Many trees have fallen, over 250,000 homes across Ireland have been left without power and key roads are closed. No one should underestimate the potential threat to life and property from the storm.”

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for much of Northern Ireland throughout Wednesday.

Forecasters said flying debris, falling trees and building damage was likely to cause injuries and pose a threat to life.

In County Galway, western Republic of Ireland, a woman died after raging winds blew her caravan off a cliff in Claddaghduff village.

Police said they recovered the body of a woman in her 50s after an emergency call at about 7.45am.