Northern Ireland official falls into pond

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, May 2 (UPI) -- Northern Irish First Minister Peter Robinson revealed on Twitter how he fell into a deep garden pond containing his Japanese koi carp while cleaning out algae.

Robinson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, messaged he was cleaning the "neglected" pond Sunday at his Belfast home when he lost his footing and "headlong fell into the pond," the Belfast Telegraph reported Monday.

"That was the easy part," Robinson wrote. "Getting out of a pond with slippy sides is not easy, especially as the water level is beyond the level of my mouth and nose."

Robinson said his family members were of little help, as they "either chortled and convulsed or searched for insurance policies."

The leader further joked about the incident after finding himself the butt of several fellow jokes on Twitter.

"Responses about slippery slopes, 'carping' on about issues and expressions of concern about my fish do not meet my need for sympathy," he wrote.