A man in his 50s died after a boat fell on him at a Weymouth harbourside yard.

Emergency services rushed to the scene on Monday afternoon after the alarm was raised.

It happened at the Weymouth Sailing Club storage boatyard on Nothe Parade.

The man sadly died at the scene despite attempts to save him.

Dorset Police is investigating the circumstances.

The Health and Safety Executive which investigates accidents in the workplace has launched an investigation, working alongside the police.

Dorset Echo:

TRAGEDY: Police at the scene today  Picture: FINNBARR WEBSTER

Emergency services, including police, paramedics and coastguards were alerted to the scene at just before 12.45pm. Onlookers said the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance landed at Bincleaves.

This morning Dorset Police released a statement confirming a man had died.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “At 12.43pm on Monday, April 16 Dorset Police was informed by the ambulance service of an incident at Nothe Steps in Weymouth.

"It was reported that a boat had fallen onto a local man in his 50s. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The Health and Safety Executive and HM Coroner have been notified."

They added the man's next of kin had been informed. 

In a statement yesterday, Commodore of Weymouth Sailing Club Euan NcNair said: “It is with much regret that I can confirm that there was a serious accident this afternoon at Weymouth Sailing Club involving a boat in storage ashore and a single person who unfortunately died at the scene.

“I can offer no further information until the next of kin have been informed and the Health and Safety Executive has completed its investigation.”

A police cordon was put in place around the scene while it was investigated

One member of the public who didn’t wish to be named said that the police told them that the cordon was to remain in place until 5pm while forensic investigations were carried out.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it had been informed of the fatality and was working with police to establish what happened.

A HSE spokesman, added: “HSE is aware of an incident at a boat yard in Weymouth and inspectors will be attending the site along with police to commence a joint investigation.”

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service, added: “We were called at 12.30pm.

“We attended with a helicopter, an ambulance, an operations officer and a rapid response vehicle.”