Solent ship fall sea cadet named by police

Jonathan's family described him as a "wonderful son"

A 14-year-old sea cadet who died after falling overboard in the Solent has been named.

Jonathan Martin, from Ashford, in Kent, was on the training ship TS Royalist which was anchored at Stokes Bay, south of Gosport, Hampshire.

He was climbing the rigging to bring in the sails when he fell 25ft (7.5m) into the sea on Sunday night. The crew retrieved him and sent a Mayday call.

The boy was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

'Devotion to cadets'

A statement from his family said: "Jonathan was a wonderful son and grandson who tragically died whilst doing something that he loved.

"He was a popular young man who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The sea cadets climbed the rigging in a display hours before Jonathan died

"We ask that the family are given space and time to come to terms with their loss.

"In relation to the accident, it is being investigated and we have no further comment to make."

Cranbrook School head teacher Angela Daly said: "He was a bit of rough and tumble, he was lively and certainly popular amongst the other boys.

"I think the thing that set him apart was his devotion to the Sea Cadets which he talked about a lot before this trip."

The teenager was one of 19 sea cadets and 10 staff on board the brig, all from the south-east of England and aged between 13 and 18.

They were celebrating the movement's 150th anniversary at the 2010 Sea Cadet Festival, which was held at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth over the bank holiday.

Mike Cornish, chief executive of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, said the accident happened during a standard exercise after setting anchor for the night.