A man in his seventies has sadly died after getting into difficulty while kite surfing in Portland Harbour, sparking a major emergency response on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday (14/7) afternoon, when emergency services received a call reporting a water sports enthusiast in trouble. Multiple rescue units were quickly dispatched to the scene, including the Weymouth RNLI inshore lifeboat, coastguard crews, a helicopter, and local police.
The man was recovered from the water by a Portland Harbour patrol boat and brought ashore at the harbour jetty. Lifeboat crew members and harbour staff provided urgent medical assistance while awaiting further help from ambulance and emergency medical teams.
Despite their efforts, the man was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor.
Portland Harbour is a popular location for water sports, attracting kite surfers, sailors, and paddle boarders year-round. Local organisations continue to remind enthusiasts to take necessary safety precautions and to be aware of changing weather and water conditions.
