Olympic sailing medalist dies in boat accident

Updated: 2013-05-10 13:52

(Xinhua)

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WASHINGTON - British double Olympic sailing medalist Andrew Simpson died Thursday when the Swedish team catamaran capsized training for America's Cup on San Francisco Bay, officials said.

Simpson, 36, was trapped underneath the boat for about 10 minutes after it flipped over and efforts to revive him failed.

Another sailor suffered injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening, and all 12 aboard had been accounted for, San Francisco Fire Department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.

Simpson won a gold in 2008 Olympics and came second in 2012 in the keelboat star class at London Games.

The yacht involved was an AC72 catamaran.

Olympic sailing medalist dies in boat accident

Silver medallist Andrew Simpson of Britain smiles during his men's star class keelboat sailing medal race victory ceremony at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Weymouth and Portland, southern England in this August 5, 2012 file photo. Simpson died May 9, 2013 when a yacht capsized off the Northern California coast during training for the America's Cup race. [Photo/Agencies]

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