A 72-YEAR-OLD man from Newport has died after falling overboard from a yacht near Penarth.

The man from Gwent was rescued by an RNLI Lifeboat from Penarth at 12.14pm today from the water off Lavernock Point.

He was taken to the University Hospital Wales, Cardiff where he later died.

A South Wales Police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances and the matter had been referred to the Coroner.

An RAF Sea King helicopter was also called but was not involved in the rescue.

A spokesman from Penarth RNLI lifeboat station said that crews were called out to help rescue a man who had fallen from a yacht just a few miles north of Steep Holm Island. 

"Both the Atlantic 85 and the smaller D class lifeboat responded to the call at approximately 12.15pm.

"The crews transferred the man from the yacht onto the Atlantic 85 lifeboat and took him quickly to the shore at Penarth, giving him first aid the entire way. 

"As soon as the boat arrived at shore, the man was handed over to the care of the Coastguards and paramedics and was taken by ambulance to hospital.   

"It’s now understood that the man has sadly died.  The crew’s thoughts are very much with his family and friends."

Penarth Coastguard added: "Our team was tasked to set up multiple helicopter landing sites (Penarth Foreshore & Blackweir Playing Fields) for RAF Rescue 169.

"The team was divided in half to accomplish these tasks. Team Alpha arrived at the Penarth Lifeboat Station Slipway to setup the landing site, but after R169 had landed it was deemed not required to transport the casualty onwards.

"This team then assisted in the transfer of the casualty from the lifeboat to awaiting Welsh Ambulance Service land ambulance. Once it was determined that a Blackweir HLS was not required, Team Bravo was stood down at Blackweir and returned to the station."