Charge after sand yacht death

A man is to be charged with manslaughter following the death of a woman after a sand yachting incident in Lancashire.

The 49-year-old man, from South Yorkshire, faces the charge after the death of Carol Cruz in August 2002.

Mrs Cruz, 38, from Burnley, suffered fatal injuries during the incident on St Annes beach.

On Wednesday it was confirmed that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has issued a court summons to the man, who is from Doncaster.

Mrs Cruz was with her two sons when the incident happened during an official sand yachting event on 19 August, 2002. She died later in hospital.

The court summons is expected to be served later this week, and the man will be formally charged with manslaughter when he appears at Blackpool Magistrates' Court on 12 January, 2004.

Fylde Council, on whose land the sand yachting event took place, is not expected to face any charges in connection with the incident.