Tragedy may have been averted yesterday when Police responded to what is believed to have been an attempted suicide at Church Bay in Southampton.

Police were tight lipped on the matter, confirming only that a man was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital yesterday afternoon and that the incident was being investigated.

The Royal Gazette understands that a passerby alerted Police yesterday that a vehicle was parked near the gate to the popular snorkeling beach with a tube running from its exhaust pipe into the interior.

An ambulance conveyed the man from the scene and a Police vehicle later towed the white jeep in which he was found.

The jeep was parked, facing the ocean, only roughly 20 feet from South Road, to the left of the entrance to Church Bay.

The beach was less busy than usual yesterday after warning signs were posted to prevent snorkelers from attempting to brave the choppy seas which resulted from high winds throughout the day.