THE SON of a man who died in a "freak" accident in Spain today said he was "bewildered" about how it happened.

Alan Taylor, of Windsor Road, Great Harwood, was on holiday on his yacht in Spain when he slipped and banged his head as he was boarding a 38ft yacht.

Mr Taylor, who had years of sailing experience, fell into the water and according to his son Mark, 36, drowned -- despite the efforts of bystanders to revive him.

The 61-year-old had been in Fuengirola Marina, on the Costa del Sol, where his boat -- a Westerly Corsair named Ricon -- was moored, for five days.

He had been joined by his wife of 18 months, Pauline, just three hours before the accident happened at around 11.30pm on Sunday, January 18.

Mr Taylor junior, 36, landlord of the Gillibrand Arms, in Collingwood Road, Chorley, had spoken to his father in the morning.

"He was doing some jobs on the boat as far as I know, I spoke to him at about 10.30am that day, and he had the engine stripped down and was tinkering about doing a bit of work.

"Then he would have gone to pick Pauline up. They had been to a local cafe and made their way back to the boat. What exactly happened I don't know because Pauline was in shock. The coroner said he was boarding the boat -- it was moored so the bow was into the wall and there was a boarding ladder from the bow onto the jetty.

"He was crossing there and slipped and fell and banged his head on the jetty and fell into the water.

"There were a few people from surrounding boats and they got him out of the water. One man had lifeguard experience and tried to save him but he couldn't."

Paramedics attended the scene but Mr Taylor said he believed his father was already dead.

"The official cause of death according to the Spanish authorities was drowning. He wasn't the strongest swimmer in the world but he could swim. It's just a freakish accident, it doesn't make sense. He's climbed into that boat thousands of times. He used to sail round Scotland and Wales and all over and never had an accident.

"He enjoyed life and enjoyed travelling. I think ultimately he wanted to retire to Spain but he was torn because he had another son who was 13."

Mr Taylor retired two years ago after running SMS electrical contractors, in Blackburn, for 20 years, and would spend up to three months a year on the yacht in Spain.

Mr Taylor also leaves a granddaughter, Autumn, aged five.

Sharon Wallbank, 41, of Fawcett Close, Blackburn, was Mr Taylor's former partner and mother to their 13-year-old son, Adam.

She said: "He was a wonderful warm person and a loving father. He adored both his sons and his granddaughter."

His funeral will be held at 10.30am on Tuesday at Pleasington Crematorium.