A crew member aboard ABN AMRO TWO, one of the yachts competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06, died earlier this morning after failing to regain consciousness after being swept overboard from the boat.

The crew member has been named as Hans Horrevoets, 32, of The Netherlands.

ABN AMRO TWO was sailing in five metre seas and 30 knot winds about 1,300 miles from Land’s End, England when Horrevoets was washed overboard at 0211GMT. The crew of ABN AMRO TWO immediately turned the boat around, took the sails down and mounted a search and rescue effort. Horrevoets was located and lifted back on board.

However, despite the efforts of fellow crew members to resuscitate him, under the direction of medical advisors from Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Horrevoets failed to regain consciousness.

Next of kin have been notified and more details will be released as soon as they become available.