A yachtsman drowned while still attached to his lifeline on Saturday after falling overboard off the Pembrokeshire coast. Richard Curtis, 62, managed to alert the Coastguard from his handheld VHF radio, but was unable to give a location. By the time Fishguard all-weather lifeboat found him he was unconscious, and later died in hospital.

It’s believed Mr Curtis, who lived aboard his yacht, was changing his sails when he slipped overboard. He had been sailing from Pwllheli in North Wales to Pembrokeshire.

Fred Caygill of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it was a very tragic incident. ‘It’s like when fishermen work alone and get caught in a rope, and go over the side’ he said. ‘He was using a safety line, which in other circumstances could have saved his life. It was unfortunate he died.’