[MTVN]

A British Olympic sailor has died after a Swedish catamaran capsized during a training session for the America's Cup in San Francisco Bay.

Andrew "Bart" Simpson - a double Olympic medallist - was one of an 11-man crew on board the Artemis Racing catamaran, the team website said.

It said Mr Simpson, from Sherborne in Dorset, was trapped under the boat and efforts to revive him failed.

Artemis is a Swedish team due to race two boats in the America's Cup.

On its website, Artemis Racing said: "It is with immense sadness that Artemis Racing confirms the tragic death of crewmember Andrew "Bart" Simpson today in San Francisco."

Artemis 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."

Mr Simpson won the Olympic Star class gold with Iain Percy - his Artemis team boss - in Beijing in 2008 and they took silver in London in 2012.

The America's Cup website said support boats were at the scene to help in the recovery.

Artemis said that doctors "afloat" with the team tried unsuccessfully to revive the British sailor after he was freed from the wreckage.

San Francisco Fire Department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge was quoted by the Associated Press as saying two sailors were brought to shore and taken to the St Francis Yacht Club where paramedics performed CPR on one of them.

The other person's injuries were not life-threatening, she said.

The rest of the crew from the capsized boat were transferred to a support boat operated by Oracle Racing, which is defending its America's Cup title from last year, officials said.

It is believed Mr Simpson served as the Swedish team's strategist.

Lt Jeannie Crump of the Coast Guard said it was not yet clear what caused the 72ft (22m) boat to capsize.

She said that a commercial salvage boat would tow the vessel to Clipper Cove, between Yerba Buena Island and Treasure Island.

The America's Cup race is due to run from July until September.

It is believed to be the second time a sailor has died during training for the race.

In 1999, Martin Wizner of the Spanish Challenge was fatally injured after being struck on the head by a broken piece of equipment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22476320

[Shaun]

Ah that's horrible news R.I.P.

[Z]

Drowning must be such a horrible way to die poor guy!

[Novo]

When i first read it i didn't think it would be anyone that famous, but Andrew Simpson is massive in the Sport and British Sailing, RIP

[lostalex]

I tried to find something fitting from the wikipedia article about the Greek goddess Artemis, but nothing really fit the circumstances of this death. So i guess i'll just say rest in peace.

[Nedusa]

How could this happen to an Olympic Sailing expert...???

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

How could this happen to an Olympic Sailing expert...???

the same way firemen die in fires, pilots die in plane crashes and skiiers die in avalanches... it's what they do, and it's a tragic accident?

bit disrespectful to suggest that he should have been able to prevent it.

[Nedusa]

Originally Posted by Shaun

the same way firemen die in fires, pilots die in plane crashes and skiiers die in avalanches... it's what they do, and it's a tragic accident?

bit disrespectful to suggest that he should have been able to prevent it.

No disrespect intended, I was asking a perfectly valid question, why did this boat capsize when it is being sailed by experts in their field ?

Were safety procedures relaxed in the pursuit of faster times, were weather reports ignored or are these boats intrinsically unsafe ?

Either way this accident has taken the life of one of our Olympic sailors and I think it's fair to ask the question how did this accident happen ??

[Shaun]

why does someone have to be blamed though? Why can't a death just be left alone as misfortune, rather than be dragged out as a callous list of errors of judgment on part of the deceased?

[Kazanne]

What waste of a talented life,poor guy may he R.I.P

[Novo]

it's a really tragic way to go but at least he achieved what many Olympic athletics would consider their ultimate life goal and win a Gold medal and also a medal at his home Olympics, what he achieved in his life should be remembered a lot more then the accident when people mention him in the future

[arista]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

How could this happen to an Olympic Sailing expert...???

The Boat was to big
so once he was trapped Under it
he could not get air

real sad

[Livia]

He got to do his hobby for a living and that's not a bad way to live. Sad that he died that way too.