Man dies after paddleboard rescue off Hampshire coast

A man has died after a family of paddleboarders were rescued off the south coast.

Emergency services were called to the incident near the New Forest village of Exbury in Hampshire, on Saturday afternoon.

The 51-year-old man was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Hampshire Constabulary said.

A woman and two teenagers were saved by RNLI lifeboat crews.

A RNLI spokeswoman said: "RNLI lifeboats from Calshot and Cowes were launched following reports of a family in difficulty during a paddleboarding incident on Lepe Beach."

She added: "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."

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