Man dies in surfing accident

A surfer has died after an accident at sea, police said today.

The 31-year-old was found unconscious on a beach at Perranporth, Cornwall, last night.

The alarm was raised by the man's brother, who said they had both been out surfing and he had not seen his sibling for 20 minutes.

The usual arrangement between the brothers was to meet at a particular location on the beach and the missing man had not arrived.

However, it was also reported that he suffered from epilepsy and concern over his safety was growing.

The St Agnes RNLI inshore lifeboat and a Navy rescue helicopter from Culdrose joined the search for the surfer.

At around 8pm he was found unconscious on the beach.

An off-duty doctor, who was also surfing, went to the man's aid and gave cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

The surfer was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske, but died later.

Peter Bullard, watch manager at Falmouth Coastguard, said: "The casualty was found lying prone on the beach.

"He was immediately given cardio-pulmonary resuscitation whilst the helicopter was diverted to the beach.

"A crash team was also notified of the incident at hospital and the brother who had originally notified the Coastguard travelled in the helicopter to the hospital.

"An off-duty doctor who happened to be in the area in a wetsuit at the time and gave CPR went with them."

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "The death is not being treated as suspicious and the victim's next of kin have been contacted."