A father has died after a family got into trouble paddleboarding half a mile out to sea.
The victim, a 51-year-old man, was airlifted to hospital in a daring RNLI rescue off Lepe beach in the New Forest, Hampshire, on Saturday afternoon.
Two teenagers and a woman were also rescued by the lifeboat crews in The Solent channel close to the Isle of Wight.
But the man was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital despite the best efforts of paramedics to save him.
A RNLI spokeswoman said: “RNLI lifeboats from Calshot and Cowes were launched following reports of a family in difficulty during a paddle-boarding incident on Lepe Beach.
“Calshot RNLI lifeboat D-class was paged at 2.10pm and the Atlantic 85 lifeboat was paged 2.38pm.
“The volunteer crew arrived to offer assistance to two teenagers and a lady. A fourth casualty was being airlifted to hospital when the lifeboat arrived.”
A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: “We were called to a report that a man was unconscious in the sea at Lepe Beach, Exbury.
“The 51-year-old man was transported to Southampton General Hospital but despite the best efforts of emergency services was pronounced dead.
“Enquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.”
