http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2322218/Andrew-Simpson-dead-British-Olympic-champion-killed-sailboat-capsizes-practicing-Americas-Cup.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2322218/Andrew-Simpson-dead-British-Olympic-champion-killed-sailboat-capsizes-practicing-Americas-Cup.html

Safety probe launched into America's Cup race after British Olympic champion, 36, is killed when 50mph catamaran capsizes during training in San Francisco Bay

 Andrew Simpson died while practicing for the upcoming America's Cup

Organisers of the America's Cup have launched a safety probe after the death of British Olympic hero Andrew Simpson, as experts branded the boats used in the event 'a potential death trap'.

The 36-year-old, who won gold at the 2008 Games in Beijing and silver during London 2012, died during a training session for the biggest event in sailing in San Francisco Bay.

The Artemis Racing AC 72-ft catamaran got into trouble near Treasure Island, the former naval station located in the bay, and Mr Simpson, who was team strategist, got trapped underneath the boat for up to 10 minutes. After he was pulled from the water doctors tried to resuscitate him in a boat and then ashore, but the Briton could not be revived.

The director of the America Cup paid a tearful tribute to Mr Simpson, as he described how the boat 'broke into pieces'.

Murray said the manoeuver involved changing direction and wind flow across the boat. Though difficult, it was normal, he said.

He then described what happened next: 'The boat nose dived and all that we know is that the boat ended up upside down and broken into many pieces.

'All the crew, except Bart, were located immediately. It appears he was trapped under some of the solid sections of the yacht, out of sight, out of view, to the myriad of people on board trying to locate him, including proper divers. 'How he got to where he got to we do not know,' Murray said.

The accident has raised questions about the safety of the boats, which reach speeds of 46mph, after they were introduced to this year's competition.

'Whether boats are safe or unsafe, we're not going to speculate on those things.

'These boats are very fast and if these sorts of things happen then there are procedures and those sorts of things that we follow.

'We have boats follow these vessels, there's divers and doctors in case such things like this happen and those procedures were followed.

'We're going to conduct a review to find out what happened and as a result of that, we'll decide what actions, if any, we need to take.'

The British Olympic Association said today: 'We are devastated to hear about the tragic training accident in San Francisco which led to the loss Olympian Andrew Simpson’s life.

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