Yachtsman dies after falling overboard in the River Yealm

A man has died after falling overboard from a yacht in the entrance to the River Yealm.

Brixham Coastguard say that they received numerous reports of a red flare in the entrance to the River Yealm. Plymouth Coastguard rescue team were called out and the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Portland was requested. The Plymouth RNLI lifeboat was also launched in the search operation.

A man had apparently fallen overboard from a yacht and the remaining crew member on the yacht set off a red flare.

The man was found in the water by a yacht called Oryex that had joined the search. He was winched by the Coastguard helicopter and taken to Derriford Hospital. The remaining crew member was taken by Plymouth Lifeboat to the lifeboat station then onto Derriford Hospital and the yacht was taken to the Mayflower Marina.

The man in his mid forties who has not been named, was pronounced dead at hospital.