A popular charter boat captain who died in an unfortunate accident has been hailed as a true man of the sea.

Mark Whayman suffered fatal injuries when he dived into the water from his boat in Castle Harbour on Sunday night.

The 53-year-old St David’s Islander was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries in the early hours of yesterday.

Last night friends paid tribute to a respected and much loved East End sailor. Mr Whayman had been a member of the St George’s Dinghy and Sports Club for many years and ran his own charter company, Sand Dollar Cruises.

“Mark lived and breathed life on the water,” Lacey Jennings, the club’s commodore, said. “Mark served on our management committee and had been a major part of the club for many years.

“He was well respected and well liked. He would help our sailing programme and was trying to help us get the junior sailing programme back up and running.

“Mark had a lot of friends. He was a hard worker and was dedicated to his charter sailing business.”

Ms Jennings said the East End’s sailing community had been left shocked and stunned by Mr Whayman’s death.

“I have known Mark since I was a child,” she said. “He will be greatly missed.

“It is such a shock to everyone in the East End that he died in this way. Mark knew Castle Harbour so well and he was such an experienced and professional guy.

“He recently moved on to his boat Sea Dollar to live. He just loved the sea. He lived and breathed it.

“Everyone is going to miss him so much.”

Mr Whayman had been sailing with seven passengers on Sunday night when his boat, Sand Dollar, ran aground in Castle Harbour.

Initial reports suggested the vessel navigated into shallow water at a small beach on Castle Point where all persons made it ashore.

It is believed that Mr Whayman then dived into the water and knocked himself unconscious.

Local diver and friend, Graham Maddocks, added: “I have known Mark since 1995 through the water sports business.

“He used to sail a charter boat off the Marriott back in those days. He also worked for SAL in Devonshire.

“Mark was the nicest guy you could hope to meet.

“He was very personable and he knew sailing.

“His family has a long history of diving and boating. It’s so very sad.”

A police spokesman confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Whayman’s tragic death.

“Circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Whayman are the subject of an ongoing investigation, however foul play is not suspected,” he said.

“The Bermuda Police Service extends condolences to Mr Whayman’s family and friends.”