A passenger who fell overboard from a yacht in the English Channel has tragically been found dead.
The man is believed to have fallen from a catamaran near the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Newhaven in East Sussex.
HM Coastguard said it received reports of a person overboard at 10.19am, reportedly from a woman on board. RNLI lifeboats from Shoreham and Newhaven were dispatched, along with a coastguard rescue helicopter, a fixed-wing aircraft and two nearby vessels, a coastguard spokesperson added.
Sussex Police said officers were alerted by HM Coastguard at 11.40am on Sunday that the man had gone overboard and that his body had already been found in the sea by coastguard crews.
A police spokesperson said: “At 11.40am on Sunday, police were informed by HM Coastguard that a man had been reported as having fallen overboard from a vessel off the coast of Newhaven. A search led by the coastguard was carried out and a body was recovered from the sea.
“The man has been identified and his next-of-kin have been informed. Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time. Enquiries are ongoing. No further details are available at this stage.”
