Sailor fell overboard and died due to 'wrong shoes' hears inquest
A veteran sailor died after falling overboard during a yacht race because he was wearing the wrong type of shoes, an inquest in Cardiff has heard.
Julian Martin, 72, was wearing his "favourite trainers" when he slipped on the wet deck to plunge into the icy waters. The inquest heard how Mr Martin should have been wearing deck shoes because they have much better grip.
His fellow sailors - including a doctor - pulled him out of the sea near Lavernock Point off the coast of the Vale of Glamorgan but found he was not breathing.
Mr Martin suffered a massive heart attack but the inquest heard he died "doing something that he loved to do".
Qualified sailor Mr Martin was taking part in a race on the Bristol Channel when the tragic accident took place.
Retired electrical engineer Mr Martin "lived life to the full" and enjoyed spending time with his friends in Cardiff Bay and Chepstow yacht clubs.
Widower Mr Martin, of Caldicot was on his friend's yacht at the time of the tragic accident.
A post mortem examination found that Mr Martin had hypertension and went into cardiac arrest after being "immersed" in the water.
After his death the widower's family asked for donations to the RNLI in his memory.
Cardiff coroner Andrew Barkley said that the widower's death had been an accident.