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.

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.