Solent sailor dies on board yacht after being hit by boom

A sailor has died on board a yacht on the Solent after he was struck on the head by the boat’s boom just before 1pm on Monday, following heavy weather brought by ex-Hurricane Bertha.

Police confirmed a man in his 30s had died as a result of a yachting accident on board a private boat off Gurnard Ledge. He suffered head injuries and died at the scene. The vessel, which was sailing near Cowes, sent out a mayday call shortly after the incident and the Cowes Inshore Lifeboat was sent to the yacht. 

The Marine and Coastguard Agency said in a statement: “The police launch, Commander, the Cowes inshore lifeboat and the Solent search and rescue helicopter R104 were in attendance.

“The helicopter’s winchman was lowered aboard and the casualty was declared deceased on the vessel by the SAR Paramedic. The casualty remained on the yacht to be taken to Trinity Landing at Cowes, where the vessel was received by a coastguard rescue team and Hampshire Police.”

Police are not treating the death as suspicious and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been notified. The sailor’s death came as the Met Office confirmed that Monday was the wettest day of the year in the UK following torrential rain brought by ex-Hurricane Bertha.

 
See article at Yachting & Boating World – click here