Man dies after falling from luxury yacht

A man has died after falling from a luxury yacht in the English Channel on Sunday, prompting a major search-and-rescue operation near the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Brighton.

The incident began around 10:20 a.m. when a woman on board the vessel — believed to be a catamaran — raised the alarm. HM Coastguard alerted Sussex Police about 80 minutes later.

According to the Coastguard, teams responded to reports of a person falling overboard off Newhaven. Lifeboats from Shoreham and Newhaven, a Coastguard rescue helicopter, a surveillance plane, and nearby vessels joined the search.

It is understood that passengers on a sightseeing tour near the wind farm spotted a body in the water. The man was recovered shortly afterward.

Sussex Police confirmed the death, saying:
“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.”

The police extended condolences to the family, saying: “Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”