A man whose best friend died while paddleboarding in Cornwall has launched a campaign to have the rules changed to protect others from a 'potentially deadly' safety device.

Teacher Simon Flynn, from Gloucestershire, went paddleboarding with his partner Chia in 2020.

But an inquest heard the strong current in the Camel Estuary began pulling him towards a moored boat.

Simon, 42, jumped into the sea - still attached to his ankle leash.

He was unable to get free, and the force of the current pushed him under the water, the BBC reported at the time.

Chia told the hearing, he was a good swimmer and did a lot of water sports.

After jumping in, Chia said she could "see that all his body was under the boat" with only his head above the water.

When his head went under the water for a third time he did not re-emerge until he was recovered from the water several minutes later. Attempts were made to resuscitate him.

A post-mortem examination concluded he suffered a minor head injury, and died from drowning.

Charlie Palmer dived in, undid the leash and pulled Mr Flynn to the surface, but found him unresponsive.

The acting senior coroner, Andrew Cox said there was an "issue for manufacturers" and described the actions of Mr Palmer as "selfless".

He concluded that Simon's death was accidental.

Now best friend Sam Foyle - an experienced paddleboarder who leant Simon his board - is calling for a change in the rules.

Sam, who was at the scene, says that Simon was neither able to release the ankle strap, or pull himself out of the water.

Simon Flynn, of Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, died in a water sport accident in Cornwall (Image: The Flynn family)

He wants manufacturers to stop selling ankle leashes and replace them with quick-release waist belts.

Sam told The Times : "I thought the ankle leash on my best mate was safety . . . what I didn’t realise was that attaching to it was your death, that it could kill you."

He is calling for manufacturers to provide a £14 quick-release belt, instead of the standard ankle leash, as a safety device when boards are sold.

100,000 paddleboards are sold in the UK each year and The Times says there has been a 150% increase in sales on eBay in the last 30 days.

Paul Hyman, founder of paddleboarding company Active360, is helping Sam in his campaign.

He told The Times: “We are trying to get the manufacturers to stop selling an ankle leash with the board."

Simon Bassett, chairman of the British Stand Up Paddle Association says leashes are not the problem, but that those who use boards need training.

Leashes are reported to be of potential concern in rivers, fast-flowing waters and where there could be hidden objects below the water.

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