Kitesurfer dies after being caught by freak gust of wind that sent him crashing into concrete beach wall

• Man was carried away in front of horrified onlookers by wind and landed on wall
• Was then dragged across rocks at Camber Sands near Rye, East Sussex, and died
• Coastguard was called to retrieve his body and police called it a ‘tragic accident’

A kitesurfer has died after he was taken by a gust of wind and dragged over rocks in a ‘tragic accident’ this morning.

The man was setting up his kite while still on the beach, but was carried away in front of horrified onlookers by wind and landed on a concrete wall.

It was thought the man, who had come with his own equipment, was getting ready to enter the water on a day with ‘excellent kite surfing conditions’ at Camber Sands, near Rye, East Sussex.

The male kitesurfer was setting up his kite while still on the beach, but was carried away in front of horrified onlookers by wind at Camber Sands near Rye, East Sussex. Pictured: The aftermath this morning

Emergency services were scrambled and the coast guard had to be called to recover the body.

A spokesman for the nearby Kitesurf Centre, which rents out equipment and provides lessons for kitesurfers, said the incident was nothing to do with their rental store, as the deceased had but had brought his own equipment.

The spokesman added: ‘The wind was actually very regular, around 20 knots, there were no adverse conditions at all, it was quite good kite surfing conditions.

He landed on a concrete wall, where he was dragged across the rocks. Emergency services were scrambled and the coast guard had to be called to recover the body

‘This was a land-based accident, before the man entered the water, while they were setting up their kite.’

Camber Sands is a popular spot for kitesurfing enthusiasts from London to travel along the M20 motorway and visit on warm weekends, when the sea is usually only slightly choppy in light winds, but it is possible to get bigger waves when south westerly breezes pick up.

The sandy, south-facing beach is regarded as a reliable kitesurfing location, as there are few obstacles in the sea.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: ‘Sadly, he was confirmed dead at the scene. His death is being treated as a tragic accident at this time and inquiries are being made to trace his next of kin. He is not from the local area’. Pictured: A sign close to the scene in Camber

With up to 300 people usually seen enjoying the sport on favourable weekends, it is one of the busiest kitesurfing destinations in the UK.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: ‘Emergency services went to the beach in Camber Sands near Rye just after 10.10am this morning after a report that a man had sustained serious injuries by falling on to a wall.

‘Sadly, he was confirmed dead at the scene. His death is being treated as a tragic accident at this time and inquiries are being made to trace his next of kin. He is not from the local area.’

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said: ‘We received a call at around 10.15am today to report a member of the public was injured on Camber Sands Beach.

‘Rye Bay and Dungeness Coastguard Rescue Teams were sent to the scene, along with Sussex Police and South East Ambulance Service.’

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