A 74-year-old New Zealand sailor died in August 2025 when a faulty winch on his yacht fatally trapped his hand off England’s coast.

A 74-year-old New Zealand sailor, Lyall Babington, died on August 5, 2025, during a round-the-world voyage when his hand was fatally caught in a faulty winch on his yacht Mollie off the coast of England. The winch, which had a known defect allowing it to run after the switch was released, continued turning and pulled him tightly against the drum, causing severe injuries. Despite crew efforts and emergency response from a lifeboat and helicopter, Babington could not be revived. A UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch report cited the defective winch—likely installed by a small boatyard—as a key factor. A post-mortem was conducted, with results pending.