British tourist, 55, dies in horror body surfing accident at Indian beach after 'rough wave slammed him into a dune causing fatal head and neck injuries'

A British tourist has died in a body surfing incident on a beach in India after a 'rough wave slammed him into a dune causing fatal head and neck injuries'.

Roy John Taylor, 55, died on Friday morning following the horrific accident at Varkala Papanasam Beach in India.

According to Indian Police Mr Taylor was an expert body surfer from London. 

It has been reported that Mr Taylor arrived in Varkala on Thursday with his wife and was staying at a beachside hotel near Papanasam.

The incident is thought to of taken place at around 11:30am local time when the beach was busy and crowded with people. 

Indian Police said: 'We have completed the inquest and the body has been sent for postmortem at Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. From the preliminary investigation, the accident happened because of rough waves while he was body surfing.'

The police said they have reported the incident to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), the Indian High Commission and the British Embassy.

An eyewitness said they saw Mr Taylor swimming and body surfing on the back in the morning with a woman.

One of the lifeguards on duty at the time said: 'The person was doing body surfing on the waves when a rough wave swept him and crashed him onto the dune. He suffered injuries on the head and neck and we gave him first aid and took him to the hospital.'

The lifeguard added that for the two days before the incident the beach had been calm and visitors had been allowed. 

The Foreign Office has been contacted for comment.