Crew member in coma after fall

A British crew member remains in a coma after falling from the yacht as he was cleaning it, according to news reports.

Jacob Nicol, 22, was rescued unconscious from the waters near Palma after falling from a harness over the side of M/Y Kibo, a 265-foot (81m) Abeking & Rasmussen yacht. According to one report, the harness and seat may have hit his head during his fall. He has been transported to a hospital in the UK.

“The accident is a result of a tragic line up of circumstances that each played a part,” Capt. Chris Andreason said by e-mail. “The Cayman investigation has been conducted and the report will follow in due course.”

He could not comment on the accident itself, but did say that “each and every one of [the crew] involved in the rescue performed admirably, and not one of them froze in spite of the pressure and nature of the emergency. I cannot commend them enough for their teamwork and professionalism.

“They were, and continue to be, a truly remarkable group of young people who I have been proud to have as my crew,” Capt. Andreason said. “They are pulling together and giving each other support; and all of us keep hope that Nicol will recover.”