Beau Sejour boss dies in yacht fall

BEAU SEJOUR manager Dave Ferguson died yesterday after falling off a yacht south of St Martin's Point. St Peter Port Radio received a mayday call from the Blue J'Ade at 12.08pm.

It is understood that Mr Ferguson, 58, was crewing on the yacht, which was in the vicinity of the Hanois race, when he was taken ill and fell overboard in strong sea conditions.

The St Peter Port lifeboat was dispatched at 12.30 with two paramedics on board.

Other yachts in the area helped in the rescue. Mr Ferguson was transferred to the yacht Flat Eric, whose crew attempted to resuscitate him. He was then moved to the lifeboat, where attempts to restore his breathing continued.

The lifeboat returned to St Peter Port at 1.03, with paramedics performing CPR throughout, but Mr Ferguson was pronounced dead shortly after arriving back in St Peter Port.

Mr Ferguson had worked at Beau Sejour since it opened in 1976; he started as a maintenance technician.

Recreation Committee president Peter Sirett said today that it was a tragic loss.

'He is going to be a very, very hard man to replace; he was Beau Sejour Centre, he has always been there,' he said.

Members of the committee and centre staff were yesterday told of his death.

'It's left everybody a bit numb because he was one of the original employees of the centre and played a key role in the renovations and was justifiably proud of what was achieved,' said Deputy Sirett.

'There are more than 3,000 members of Beau Sejour and I would have thought most of them would have met him.

'The Recreation Committee and staff are deeply shocked by his loss.

'He is going to be sadly missed around the centre and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.'

Harold Allen, who coached Mr Ferguson when he played for Rangers Football Club, was shocked to learn of his death.

'It is so sad for him and his family. He was a lovely man,' he said.

Police said yesterday that enquiries were continuing into the 'unfortunate inc