A kite-surfer, believed to be in his 40s, has died near St Osyth despite an hour-long battle to save his life.
Lifeboat crews were called at 10.55am on Sunday to Ray Creek, Point Clear.
The East of England Ambulance service said the man had suffered “traumatic injuries”.
“The patient was conscious and breathing, but sadly his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest and went unconscious and wasn’t breathing,” said a spokesman, who said the man could not be resuscitated.
A rapid response vehicle, road ambulance and air ambulance were all sent to the scene.
David Ursell runs the PUSH kite-surfing school in Clacton.
“The whole kite-surfing community is going to be reeling from this news,” he said. “Even people who don’t know him are quite upset today.
“It’s a sport where you can be extremely safe and it’s only on rare occasions like this that something might happen.”
He said he believed the man who died, who is thought to be from the Southend area, was an extremely experienced kite-surfer.
Ambulance crews were also joined by the Clacton RNLI, as well as Walton and Clacton Coastguards.
“When the lifeboat arrived at Ray Creek two volunteer crew were put ashore and assisted in giving the casualty medical treatment alongside the paramedics and doctors,” said a spokesman.
“Unfortunately despite an hour-long battle to save the man, he succumbed to his injuries.
“The thoughts of the crew and everyone at Clacton RNLI is with the man’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Clacton RNLI’s Atlantic 85 and D Class lifeboats were diverted to the incident from a routine exercise, after Dover Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public.
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