Sean Sands: Hunstanton kite surfing death 'accidental'

Sean Sands died after getting into difficulty in the North Sea in March

The death of a kite surfer who was unable to trigger his craft's emergency safety mechanism off the Norfolk coast was accidental a coroner has found.

Emergency services were called after Sean Sands was spotted in the North Sea off Hunstanton on Saturday 7 March.

He was pulled unconscious from the water and airlifted to hospital in King's Lynn, where he died.

The British Kitesports Association said it had investigated the case, but has yet to publicly release the report.

A spokesman told the BBC the organisation was still looking at what findings to release.

Norfolk coroner Jacqueline Lake, sitting at King's Lynn County Court, recorded a verdict of "accidental death".

Kite surfer Mr Sands was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn where he later died

At the time of his death, tributes were paid to Mr Sands, who was in his 40s and a member of Hunstanton Sailing Club.

In a statement, the club said: "Sean lost control of his kite and for reasons not known to us yet, was unable to trigger his emergency quick release.

"Hunstanton Sailing Club have lost a true brother, a friend to so many and one of life's genuinely effervescent characters."

The beach was crowded at the time of the accident