THIS is the first picture of the company director crushed to death by his own 29ft yacht when it fell on him.

Kevin Keeler's partner paid tribute to the 56-year-old, who she described as her "best friend".

5 Kevin Keeler died after his boat fell on top of him - here he is pictured with his partner, Tatiana Saltykova Credit: Bournemouth News

Tatiana Saltykova, who has been with Kevin for two years, said: "Kevin was passionate about sailing and a well-loved member of the Weymouth sailing community.

"He loved his children. He was my best friend and a wonderful partner, I will miss him dearly."

The dad-of-five had been carrying out general repairs beneath the half-tonne wooden vessel when it suddenly toppled on to him at a yacht club.

His body was found under the yacht at the Weymouth Sailing Club in Dorset yesterday.

5 A 56-year-old man was killed when his yacht fell on top of him Credit: Bournemouth News

Paramedics tried in vain to save the consultant software engineer.

Members of the club have now spoken out of their shock, with Euan NcNair, commodore of Weymouth Sailing Club, saying: "It is with much regret that I can confirm that there was a serious accident at Weymouth Sailing Club involving a boat in storage ashore and a single person who unfortunately died at the scene.

"It was a 29ft sailing boat that fell on him and it wasn't moving at the time.

5 Members of the yacht club have spoken out of their shock Credit: Bournemouth News

5 The club in Dorset has been locked down as police investigate Credit: Bournemouth News

"Everybody is very shocked, it's an extremely sad occasion for us and our thoughts go out to his relatives."

The man, who is thought to be a company director, had joined the club a year ago after moving to the area.

It is understood the boat was undergoing two weeks of maintenance, including minor repairs, at the time of the accident about midday yesterday.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating and the yard had been put on lockdown.

The boat involved is thought to be a Westerly GK29 sailing yacht and is over 30 years old.

5 The man had become a member of the club in the past year Credit: Bournemouth News

A Dorset police spokesman said: "At 12.43pm on Monday Dorset police was informed by the ambulance service of an incident in Weymouth.

"It was reported that a boat had fallen on to a man.

"The Health and Safety Executive has been notified and an investigation into the circumstances of the incident is under way." A police cordon has been put up around the scene.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it had been informed of the fatality and was working with police to establish what happened.

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An HSE spokesman, added: "HSE is aware of an incident at a boat yard in Weymouth and inspectors will be attending the site along with police to commence a joint investigation."

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance Service, added: "We were called at 12.30pm.

"We attended with a helicopter, an ambulance, an operations officer and a rapid response vehicle."