ONE of media mogul Chris Evans' best friends died after an accident on board his luxury yacht left him face down and unconscious in the Solent, an inquest was told.

The yacht had been returning from a birthday bash on the Isle of Wight with the crew enjoying a warm summer sunset when the boat's boom struck skipper James Ward on the head.

The Southampton inquest was told how Mr Ward, 50, a pub landlord, had been knocked unconscious by the impact and had drowned soon afterwards.

The outing aboard the Hamble-based yacht Nauticaa had been organised to celebrate the birthday of Mr Ward's business partner, Susan Barnett, 55.

The group had been to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight for lunch and had stayed longer than expected before deciding to return.

However, halfway across the Solent, the yacht's boom swung across the deck and caught Mr Ward, of Hascombe, Surrey, on the side of the head as he was adjusting some rigging, knocking him overboard.

Southampton Coroner's Court heard how John "Webbo" Webster, Chris Evans' former side-kick at Virgin Radio, had immediately dived in after him but was unable to reach the skipper.

Mr Webster said: "As the boat carried on, I saw James in the water and just jumped in straight away. I didn't think about it. It was just a natural reaction."

Dr Evans was not at the inquest, although did provide a statement to police on the incident, which was not read out at the inquest.

Mr Harry Millward-Sadler, the pathologist who later examined Mr Ward, told the hearing that the impact had left a 6cm cut-to-the-bone on the side of his head and that he would have been unconscious before he hit the water.

He would have died from drowning within minutes, the hearing was told.

Dr Millward-Sadler also confirmed that there was alcohol in Mr Ward's bloodstream, though it was well below the legal driving limit and would not have contributed to the accident.

The issue of safety equipment was also raised, although a representative from the Hampshire Marine Unit told the hearing that the level of equipment on the yacht was very good, and that 90 per cent of sailors would not have deployed lifejackets to crew in the conditions.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman said: "I understand Mr Ward was a very popular and well liked person and what happened on that day has been a great loss to many people."