A sailor from New Zealand died from catastrophic crush injuries and asphyxiation off the Isle of Wight during a round-the-world sailing trip, an inquest opening has heard.
After setting off from West Wittering, near Chichester, to Poole on the morning of August 5 last year, Lyall Babington was "pulled" into a winch while he was putting up a sail on the Mollie, the hearing was told today (Friday, January 23).
The 74-year-old, of Great North Road, Auckland, was showing one of his three crewmen how to use the winch when his right hand got caught in the machinery.
Two crewman tried to free Mr Babington's hand from the winch, but "then it pulled his arm in, followed by his whole body," the inquest opening was told.
A mayday call was made to Solent Coastguard at 12.18pm, but the crew on board the 17m vessel had no idea as to where they were located.
The coastguard were able to pinpoint Mollie's position to about three nautical miles off The Needles, from the phone call, and Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat was sent.
READ MORE:
-
Sailor, 74, died in accident off Isle of Wight during round-the-world trip
-
Woman drowned off IW after 'valiant' efforts to save her failed
-
Boat crash near The Needles "could have been avoided", report rules
-
Containers which fell overboard off Island were 'not properly secured' says MAIB
On board the vessel, Mr Babington was freed from the winch by RNLI crews and a rescue helicopter team, but attempts to revive him proved fruitless and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mollie was towed into Yarmouth harbour, where police took control of the incident.
A post mortem at St Mary's Hospital, Newport, concluded Mr Babington died of traumatic asphyxia and severe multiple crush compression injuries to his neck, chest and abdomen.
A Marine Accident Investigation Branch investigation found the winch system had a known defect affecting its controls, causing it to sometimes continue running even after the switch was released.
Two of Mr Babington's crew of three only joined him the day before the accident.
Coroner Caroline Sumeray provisionally adjourned the inquest to July 22.
Share