Police are now appealing for witnesses after a man died in a paddleboarding incident in the water off Lepe beach.

Officers were called at 3.54pm 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.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: "We know that there were a number of people in the area at the time who attempted to assist the man and the people he was with who we’d like to make contact with.

"We’d specifically like to speak to several members of the public who helped the man from the water into their boat and several others on another boat who assisted a woman at the scene.

"We’d also like to speak to the person who communicated a ‘May Day’ call to alert emergency services to the incident.

"If anyone was on the beach or in the area from 2.30pm onwards and witnessed what happened, we’d also like them to get in touch."

Contact police on 101 quoting 44210344158.