A man has died after falling from the rigging of a sail training ship off Southend

At just after 1500 on Sunday afternoon Thames Coastguard were called by the crew of the Dutch sail trading vessel `Albatross’ who reported that they had a man overboard and severely injured.

The man was was aloft in the rigging of the Dutch vessel when he fell and hit the side of the vessel before entering the water. Immediately the Southend Atlantic 75 lifeboat was asked to launch and the Coastguard began to broadcast into the area to alert other vessels. The Southend Coastguard Rescue Team were also sent to the scene.

The man was retrieved from the water and the crew began to work on him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has now been informed and the Police Marine Unit also attended the incident. The `Albatross’ has now made its way to Southend Pier after the accident for further investigations.