A Scottish man and an Irish woman have died after a yacht apparently capsized and smashed into rocks on the west coast of South Africa.

The 61-year-old man’s body was found at the scene of the accident, which the South African Maritime Safety Authority is investigating.

The Irish woman who died was 49, South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute said.

The NSRI received reports that a yacht had capsized between Bokpunt and Gansekraal on the Western Cape just after 4.30am on Monday.

Sea rescue boats and a police dive unit responded but the yacht, Tara, was discovered broken up among rocks on the shore.

The NSRI said it was not known why the yacht had hit the rocks or whether it had capsized before running aground.

A spokesman said there were three crew members on board, reportedly sailing from Langebaan to Cape Town. A 66-year-old Irish man who lived in the Western Cape got to shore to raise the alarm.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are liaising with local authorities and seeking further information following the tragic death of a British national in Cape Town, South Africa.”

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it was liaising with relatives of the Irish woman, who had lived in the Western Cape for years.

“The department is aware of the death of an Irish citizen in the Western Cape and consular assistance is being provided,” a spokesman said.