AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a yachtswoman died after falling into the Solent.

Emergency services were contacted at 2.58pm on Saturday after a woman, aged 43, was pulled from the sea unconscious near Cowes.

A Cowes Harbour Commission launch took the woman to Trinity Landing.

A defibrillator borrowed from the Royal London Yacht Club was used to carry out CPR.

Despite resuscitation attempts, the woman was eventually pronounced dead, police confirmed.

The woman is believed to have been sailing a small boat at the time and fell overboard just off Cowes, where chilly sea temperatures would have put her at risk of hypothermia.

Police say her next of kin have been informed.

"We are working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau to establish the exact circumstances of what happened," a police spokesman said.

Cowes RNLI had been called out to the incident at 1.45pm, but were almost immediately stood down after learning the launch had transferred the woman to Trinity Landing.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook