A 72-YEAR-OLD man from the 'Newport area' has died after falling overboard from a yacht.

The man was rescued by an RNLI Lifeboat from Penarth at 12.14pm today from the water off Lavernock Point.

He was taken to the University Hospital Wales, Cardiff where he later died.

A South Wales Police spokesman said his family were with him at the hospital.

An RAF Sea King helicopter was also called but was not involved in the rescue.

A spokeswoman for the RNLI said the Penarth station sent both of their lifeboats - an Atlantic 85 and a smaller D class lifeboat - after receiving the call yesterday at 12.15 pm.

She added the crews transferred the man from the yacht onto the Atlantic 85 lifeboat where he was given first aid and took him to the shore at Penarth where he was handed over to Coastguards and paramedics and taken by ambulance to hospital.