NZ man dies after falling from yacht

A New Zealander died yesterday after falling from his yacht and striking his head while attempting to prevent another boat from colliding with his vessel at Phuket's Chalong Bay Pier.

Police found the body of Richard E Spraggs, 59, clad in blue shorts with a wound to his forehead. There were no reports of any fighting involved, and Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation planned to perform an autopsy at the Vachira Phuket Hospital.

Prior to the incident, Spraggs reportedly brought some women aboard his yacht, the "La-zin Gara", via an inflatable boat. He and the women were resting on the yacht, which had dropped anchor, when another boat appeared to be about to collide with the La-zin Gara. Spraggs reportedly tried to push the second boat clear of his yacht but fell and struck his head on the side of his boat, rendering him unconscious. Other foreigners saw the event and tried to help him, but he reportedly died on the way to hospital.