QC's family in hospital tribute

Mr Thompson was on the yacht, the Avocet

The family of a Northern Ireland QC who died in a yachting accident in the Caribbean are establishing a charity to help the hospital that cared for him.

John Thompson, 54, from Carnalea near Bangor was competing in a transatlantic yacht race when he was hit by the boom of the sail during storms last Friday.

NI's top judge, Sir Brian Kerr, told the High Court Mr Thompson's death was a grievous loss to the legal community.

Mr Thompson suffered a serious head injury and died on Thursday.

The Lord Chief Justice said: "His success as a lawyer bore eloquent witness to his manifold talents."

His family said they wanted to raise funds to facilitate organ donation at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados.

In a statement released on Thursday evening, Mr Thompson's wife, Tina, and children, Charlotte, Rachel, Vicky and Daniel, said that he passed away peacefully as they were at his bedside.

"John died as a result of head injuries sustained in a boating accident while sailing his yacht the Avocet to the Caribbean, taking part in the Atlantic Rally Crossing.

"John never regained consciousness after the accident on Friday 7 December," the statement read.

"John was an outstanding QC, highly regarded by the legal profession."

Mr Thompson was also 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.