A search and rescue mission ended tragically yesterday when a missing sailor was found dead.

The sailor, who was travelling alone, is believed to have suffered an injury on Wednesday, breaking his ribs.

Unwilling to abandon his yacht, called Bandit, he agreed to meet the Bermuda Islander, which was returning to Bermuda from New Jersey.

However, when the cargo vessel reached the meeting point, Bandit was not there.

A US Coast Guard C130 located the yacht on Friday afternoon, but despite circling the boat three times at low altitude, they were unable to get any response.

According to a spokesman for Harbour Radio, the yacht was found at around 2.30 a.m. on Friday, but the lone sailor was no longer alive.