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Andrew Simpson, British sailor and Olympian, dies after yacht capsizes Andrew Simpson, British sailor and Olympian, dies after yacht capsizes
(about 1 hour later)
Olympic gold medal-winning sailor Andrew Simpson has died after his yacht capsized off the coast of California, his team said on Thursday night. The British Olympic sailor Andrew Simpson died on Thursday after his team's ultra-modern yacht capsized in the San Francisco bay and trapped him underwater during training for the America's Cup.
Andrew Simpson was taking part in training in San Francisco Bay ahead of this summer's America's Cup when the catamaran turned over and he became trapped underneath, a statement from Artemis Racing said. The 72-foot Artemis catamaran tipped over at 1.15pm local time, plunging its 13-strong crew into the water and trapping Simpson under the vessel's platform for about 10 minutes.
The team announced: "It is with immense sadness that Artemis Racing confirms the tragic death of crew member Andrew 'Bart' Simpson today in San Francisco." Rescuers pulled Simpson, 36, into a support boat and an officer from the San Francisco police department's marine unit tried to resuscitate him. He was declared dead about 20 minutes later, said San Francisco fire chief Joanne Hayes-White.
Simpson was one of 11 members of crew on board the catamaran when it capsized. Simpson won a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a crew member in the star class, and he also took silver last year at the London Games.
Despite attempts to revive him both in the water and on the shore, he was unable to be saved. All the other crew members were accounted for. "The entire team is devastated by what happened," said Artemis chief executive Paul Cayard, a sailing world champion and America's Cup veteran. "Our heartfelt condolences are with Andrew's wife and family."
Artemis Racing chief executive Paul Cayard said: "The entire Artemis Racing team is devastated by what happened. Our heartfelt condolences are with Andrew's wife and family." One other crew member was hurt but his condition was not said to be serious. The rest of the crew escaped unharmed and was taken to its nearby base at Alameda, where members were said to be in tears.
Clive Woodward, director of elite performance for the British Olympic Association, took to Twitter to offer his condolences, saying: "Totally shocked to hear Olympic star Andrew 'Bart' Simpson died after Swedish America's cup catamaran capsizes - thoughts with his family". The coastguard said winds were a little above normal when the boat capsized half a mile north of Treasure Island. It was flying under a Swedish flag in preparation for the 34th America's Cup, sailing's most prestigious prize.
Simpson, nicknamed Bart, was born in Surrey, and lived in Dorset. He had temporarily moved to San Francisco for the training. "Moving the family to San Fran for 6 months is pretty hectic!!! The cup should be fun though!!" he tweeted in March.
He was recruited to the Artemis team, named after the Greek hunting goddess, as a strategist.
The crew reported glitches with the boat, which can reach speeds of 45mph, after it launched last November, according to a posting on the America's Cup website, and it needed to be modified earlier this year.
Coast Guard Lt Jeannie Crump said the cause of the accident was unclear.
The America's Cup race is scheduled to run from July through to September. The Louis Vuitton Cup for challengers starts on 4 July, with the final in September.