By GEMMA BROWN

Published at 07:38, Wednesday, 06 March 2013

A PILOT from Ponteland drowned while windsurfing off the Northumberland coast in severe weather conditions, an inquest has heard.

Daniel Silipo, a captain for British Airways, got into difficulty after becoming separated from his board off the coast of Blyth, in November.

The 44-year-old married father of three, who lived at Darras Hall, died as a result of an accident, North Northumberland coroner Tony Brown ruled at the hearing in Berwick on Tuesday.

Mr Silipo, who was an experienced windsurfer, had gone out near Blyth harbour on November 7.

He got into trouble when he was separated from his board in what the coroner was told were severe weather conditions near Gloucester Lodge Farm, between Blyth’s South Beach and Seaton Sluice.

Members of the public reported seeing a windsurfer face down in the water and lifeboats from Cullercoats and Blyth and a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer went to the scene.

Mr Silipo was airlifted to Wansbeck General Hospital at Ashington but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The former Ponteland High School pupil lived in Stonehaugh Way with his wife, Emma, and their children, Jake, Josh and Eva.

He had been on a Northumberland windsurfing internet forum on the morning he died and appeared to ask if anyone wanted to join him on the trip to Blyth.

A collection in aid of the RNLI was taken at his funeral, and has continued on line under the name The Daniel Silipo Forever by the Sea fund.

The web page, set up by Mrs Silipo, says: “Daniel’s love of the sea was with him always, whether he was windsurfing, water-ski-ing, surfing or sailing – it is where he loved to be.

“Thank you for donating to the RNLI in his memory.”

More than £3,000 has been collected so far.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk