MANX Special Olympics athlete Gareth Cowin has died during the World Winter Games in South Korea.
Mr Cowin, 25, contracted a deadly virus earlier this week, and his family were informed early this morning that he had passed away.
The floor hockey team member was one of a Special Olympics squad of 16 which set off from the Isle of Man on Friday, arriving in South Korea on Sunday ahead of the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang yesterday.
Gareth was a keen sportsman, having collected a gold medal in Athens in 2011 as a part of the five-a-side football squad at the World Summer Games.
His father Kevin Cowin has flown out to South Korea.
The squad will continue to compete at the games.