Mother killed in sand yacht accident

A mother died after she was hit by a sand yacht in front of her two children on a public beach in a horrific collision at the weekend.

Carol Cruz, 38, from Burnley, had both her legs severed and her back broken when she was hit during a race on Lytham St Anne's beach near Blackpool in Lancashire at 1.50pm on Saturday.

Mrs Cruz and her sons, aged 14 and 12, who were not injured, are believed to have strayed on to the course for a race between a dozen of the wind-powered craft when the accident happened.

The beach was not closed for the race. Police were investigating whether the track had been correctly marked out and signposted.

A sand yacht – in effect a cross between a three-wheeled go-kart and a windsurfing board – can reach speeds of up to 70mph. Competitors lie back in their pods, inches off the ground, as they steer around a beach circuit.

Mrs Cruz, who died in hospital, was on a day trip with her children which coincided with a regatta organised by the 51-year-old Fylde International Sand Yacht Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious in Britain, which is based at St Anne's. A Lancashire police spokesman said: "The sand yacht was taking part in an organised event. It has been seized by the police for forensic examination."

The spokesman added that the coroner had been informed and a post-mortem examination would be carried out.

The Health and Safety Executive is expected to be asked to carry out an investigation.