A leading Northern Ireland barrister died in a Caribbean hospital tonight six days after being critically injured while competing in a transatlantic yacht race.
John Thompson QC was taking part in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers when he was hit on the head by the sail boom of his yacht Avocetduring storms last Friday.
The 54-year-old from Bangor, Co Down was in mid-Atlantic when he was injured and the following day he was transferred to a nearby cruise ship which took him to hospital in Barbados.
His wife Tina and son Daniel flew to his side and maintained a bedside vigil until his death. Mr Thompson was a long-standing member of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club in Bangor where he moored his yacht in the marina.
The race he was taking part in started in Gran Canaria last month and finishes in Saint Lucia.
PA