A man has tragically died after becoming injured on board a yacht whilst sailing out on the Solent yesterday lunchtime (Tuesday).
It was around 12:20 that both Yarmouth RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat and Lymington RNLI‘s Inshore Lifeboat were paged to launch by Solent Coastguard in response to a reported emergency in the Western Solent, near Milford-on-Sea.
It had been reported that a man had become injured whilst on board the New Zealand-flagged yacht ‘Mollie’, which left Chichester Harbour at 07:20.
The significance of the situation led to Coastguard Rescue 175 being scrambled from Lee-on-Solent with a winchman lowered onto ‘Mollie’ to provide immediate casualty care.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was deployed to Yarmouth, alongside the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, to rendezvous with the yacht and both lifeboats.
Sadly, there was nothing that could be done to save the man’s life and he was declared dead on board the yacht. Medics subsequently stood down.
Cordons were erected around the vessel whilst alongside at Yarmouth Harbour, with detectives from Newport CID called in to conduct initial investigations into the death.
Today, it has been confirmed that the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch has taken the lead on the investigation into the death.
A MAIB spokesperson has told Island Echo:
“A team of two inspectors have been deployed to the Isle of Wight to conduct a preliminary assessment into a fatal accident on board a New Zealand registered pleasure yacht”.
Sad occurrence at any time, but Perhaps the MAIB might be a bit quicker than the local coroner.
You said it. Sounds like a nasty.
I was so shocked to hear this, the chap who died was a good friend of mine, I met with him just a month and a half ago. A good sailor and a true adventurer, one of life’s true characters. Rest East my friend.
He was my cousin and a true adventurer
may he rest in peace Beryl