A sailor died after falling overboard today as he tried to free his boat's propeller.
A major rescue operation was launched at 4.45am after the accident happened.
The man was on board the boat with two other people, one of whom was his son.
Their vessel had run aground nine miles south of Walton and they could not get it restarted.
It is believed the sailor was trying to repair the faulty propeller when he fell overboard and became lodged under the boat.
A distress call was sent out and Walton and Harwich lifeboats, a Royal Navy vessel and the RAF Search and Rescue helicopter were all sent to the scene.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Tuesday, June 21, 2005
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