Tragic Paddleboard Death Off Lepe Beach
Builder Julian Luffman, 51, tragically died after falling from an inflatable paddleboard half a mile off Lepe Beach last August 28. His widow, Olesya Luffman, revealed the heartbreaking details at an inquest in Winchester.
Struggle with Spondylitis and Swimming Skills
Julian suffered from spondylitis—a painful inflammation of the spine that limited his shoulder and neck movement. Olesya said he couldn’t swim, making the incident even more devastating. Just a month prior, he had researched and bought two inflatable paddleboards, hoping for calm waters at Lepe Beach.
Fatal Fall and Rescue Attempt
While windsurfing nearby, Olesya watched as Julian attempted to test one of the boards. Not wearing a lifejacket, he paddled out to her but lost his balance while trying to turn the board standing up. He fell feet first into the water.
“He came up head first, tried to grip the board, the board twisted round, and the fin hit him between the eyes,” Olesya recounted. “I said, ‘Are you OK?’ He said, ‘No, not really.’”
Despite her best efforts to keep him afloat, she noticed, “He was simply not responding, and his hands fell away. I was well aware that he had passed away.”
Helicopter Rescue and Cause of Death
Nearby boaters heard Olesya’s screams and rushed to help before a coastguard helicopter winched Julian from the water. He was taken to Southampton General Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Coroner Jason Pegg revealed the post-mortem showed Julian died from cardiac arrest triggered by a vasovagal crisis and immersion in water. His limited mobility due to spondylitis and inability to swim likely contributed to the tragedy.
“Julian attempted to flip the paddleboard around after paddling out to his wife—it was probably the first time he tried something like that,” the coroner added.
