Andrew Simpson, Olympic Gold Medalist, Dies in Sailing Accident While Training for America's Cup

World-renowned sailor drowns after the catamaran he and the Swedish team Artemis were practicing on capsized in the San Francisco Bay

By Peter Gicas May 10, 2013 2:15 PMTags
Andrew SimpsonChris Ison/PA Wire

Famed British sailor Andrew "Bart" Simpson has died after the catamaran he was on capsized.

The tragic event occurred in the San Francisco Bay on Thursday while Simpson and the Swedish team Artemis were training for the upcoming America's Cup, ABC News reports.

The 72-foot boat flipped and trapped Simpson underwater for about 10 minutes. The other crew members managed to jump off the boat as it capsized and swim toward support boats.

Simpson, 36, was subsequently taken to a local hospital where he died a short time later.

"The entire Artemis team is devastated by what happened," CEO Paul Cayard said in a statement on the team's website. "Our heartfelt condolences are with Andrew's wife and family."

Simpson, along with partner Iain Percy, won an Olympic gold medal in sailing in 2008 as well as a silver during the 2012 Games in London.