A KITE surfer has died after crashing into cliffs at Compton Bay yesterday (Wednesday).

An IW Police spokesperson confirmed:

“We were called at 5.38pm to an incident involving a kite surfer.

“A man in his 50s was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital and was later pronounced dead.

“We are not treating the death as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner."

The County Press reported yesterday the man had suffered 'extremely severe' injuries.

Several emergency responders attended the scene at around 5pm yesterday, including Freshwater Fire Station, The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team, the Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team, Isle of Wight Ambulance Service and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

The Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat searched the area to ensure no-one else was in the water, and the UK Coastguard helicopter, based at Lee-on-Solent, also assisted.

It was originally reported the casualty was a windsurfer, but it has subsequently been confirmed he was a kite surfer.

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