Julian Luffman died in incident off Lepe Beach, inquest told

Builder Julian Luffman, 51, was half a mile off Lepe Beach when the accident happened on August 28 last year.

His widow, Olesya Luffman, told the Winchester inquest that he suffered from spondylitis – inflammation of the spine – which meant he had limited movement in his shoulders and neck.

Mr Luffman had carried out research before buying two inflatable boards for their family about a month before his death, the inquest heard.

He decided to try out the boards at Lepe Beach because he felt the water would be calmer.

Rescuers at the scene of the incident.

Mrs Luffman said she was using her windsurfing board half a mile out. Her husband, who was not wearing a lifejacket, started using one of the paddle boards and came out to her.

Mr Luffman was standing up and fell feet first into the water as he tried to turn the board around.

His widow said: "He came up head first, tried to grab the board, the board turned round and the fin hit him between the eyes.

“I said, ‘Are you OK?’ He said, ‘No, not really’.”

Mrs Luffman said tried to hold him above the water. She added: "He was just not responding, his hands slipped away. I knew he was dead already.”

The inquest was heard at Winchester Coroner's Court. (Image: Newsquest)

The inquest was told that boat users heard Mrs Luffman's screams and rushed over in a bid to rescue her husband before a coastguard rescue helicopter arrived and winched him out of the water.

He was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he was pronounced dead following attempts to resuscitate him.

Coroner Jason Pegg said a post-mortem examination showed the cause of death was cardiac arrest caused by vasovagal attack and immersion in water.

Recording a narrative conclusion, he said: “Mr Luffman could not swim. He had suffered from spondylitis for some time and that would affect his movement.

“Having paddled out to Mrs Luffman, Julian tried to turn the paddle board around. It was probably the first time he had tried to do so."

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