MAN DIES AFTER SOLENT BOATING ACCIDENT

UPDATED: A man has died on board a yacht this afternoon (Monday) after being struck on the head by the boom of the vessel.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 13:00, prompting Cowes RNLI lifeboat to launch at the request of Solent Coastguard. The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Lee-on-Solent was scrambled to the area, where a winchman was lowered onto the large yacht before declaring the sailor deceased.

Coastguard Rescue Teams from The Needles also attended the incident and stood by at The Parade, Cowes.

Praise for the professional way the rescue services handled the incident has been voiced by Cowes RNLI lifeboat launch authority, Harry Leslie:

”Irrespective of the outcome, this was a good example of emergency services working in a joined up fashion to deal with a most unfortunate incident. It shows the value of joint training carried out in the Solent by all these rescue units.”

This was the second incident in two days that Cowes lifeboat had been called out to a yacht where a yachtsman had been a casualty of strong winds. In the first a Norwegian was treated at St Mary’s for arm and shoulder injuries, from an apparent accidental gybe.

Trinity landing has been closed. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been informed.

It is understood the boat was heading from Southampton to Yarmouth however diverted towards Cowes due to the bad weather before the incident occurred.

UPDATE @ 17:40 – The body of the sailor injured in this afternoon’s incident has now been removed from the yacht and transferred to a private ambulance.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been informed.