A water-skier died after being hit by the speedboat which had been towing him.

Stuart Jarman, 27, of Blenheim Close, Brantham, received severe head and arm injuries after being struck by the boat while he was in the water just outside Brightlingsea Harbour.

It is believed he was hit by the speedboat's propeller after the boat had turned round to pick him up.

Mr Jarman was one of a party of four friends, all believed to be in their 20s, water-skiing off Brightlingsea on Saturday afternoon .

One of those on board was thought to be Mr Jarman's girlfriend.

Police, the Essex Air Ambulance and Thames Coastguard rushed to the waterfront at 1.30pm after reports that a skier in the Fletcher speedboat had been involved in an accident.

The speedboat managed to get Mr Jarman back to Brightlingsea Harbour, but he was declared dead at the scene and taken by ambulance to Colchester General Hospital.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said the details of the accident would be revealed at a coroner's inquest. But he added: "The boat did turn round and we believe it was the propeller. He did suffer massive head and arm injuries."

The others on the boat were also taken to Colchester General Hospital.

"They were all very, very shocked by the whole incident, but I don't think any of them were hurt," said the police spokeswoman.

"Obviously, they all wanted to go to the hospital. I think one of the girls was the girlfriend of the chap who died and I don't know if at that point they knew he had actually died."

The speedboat was put on to a trailer and taken to the nearby council boatyard to be inspected by members of the specialist Essex Police Marine Unit.

An inquest will be held.

Essex Police are appealing for witnesses to contact Clacton Police Station on 01255 221312 or the coroner on 01255 830386.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.