British man, 63, is killed and six others are hurt as luxury yacht hits rocks ‘while dodging another vessel’ off the coast of Italy
- British man, 63, has died after 70ft luxury yacht hit rocks off Sardinia, Italy
- Briton, thought to own the boat, was riding with six passengers on Sunday night
- Captain thought to have swerved to avoid another boat and crashed at 8.40pm
- Two others rushed to hospital in serious condition while four more were hurt
A British man has died and six others have been injured after the boat they were riding on smashed into rocks off the coast of Italy.
The 63-year-old, who is understood to be the owner of the ‘Amore’ Magnum-type motor yacht involved in the crash, was killed in the accident around 8.40pm yesterday near Porto Cervo, in Sardinia.
It is thought the Amore – carrying a total of seven people – was swerving to avoid another boat near a group of islands known as Il Nibani that lie just off the coast when it hit the rocks and half-sunk.
A 63-year-old Briton has died after the luxury yacht he was riding on smashed into rocks last night off the coast of Sardinia, Italy (pictured, the boat in port after the crash)
Six other passengers on board the yacht were injured in the crash, two of them seriously, which happened near a set of islands called Il Nibani close to Porto Cervo
Nearby boats alerted coastguards who arrived to find the Briton alive but unconscious.
A passing Maltese yacht volunteered to take him back to shore but he died en route.
Coast guards transported the rest of the wounded back to Porto Cervo, where two of them were taken to hospital in serious condition, La Stampa reported
The remaining four passengers also received emergency treatment.
The 70ft yacht was towed off rocks by coastguard vessels and impounded while an investigation is carried out.
Coast guards have also sealed off the area where the crash happened until the investigation is completed.
One source said: ‘The theory is the boat that ran aground was trying frantically to steer out of the way of another which didn’t have right of way and she ended up on the rocks.’
One bystander on social media said: ‘Five ambulances around a boat last night at Porto Cervo which was towed in. Doesn’t look good.’
Coastguards had found the Briton alive but unconscious after the accident and raced him to Porto Cervo (file image) so medics could tend to him, but he died en route
The MY Amore is registered in the Italian port of Monfalcone near Trieste. However, it is unclear whether the dead Briton had chartered the vessel or owned it.
A picture of the rocks struck by the Amore was released by coastguards and white paint from her hull was clearly visible on the surface of the stones.
Today coastguard commander Francesco Colarullo told Mail Online: ‘The damaged boat was towed back to Porto Cervo and has now been seized by the local prosecutor while the investigation into what happened exactly continues.
‘It’s possible speed may have been an issue and we know that other vessels were in the area at the time and the accident may have happened while evasive action was taking place.
‘Every effort was made to save the life of the British man but there was nothing that could be done and he was unconscious when he was recovered.
‘The alarm was raised by the Amore with a mayday and they reported they were taking on water after striking rocks and a rescue operation was immediately launched.
‘Two coastguard vessels were involved as well as several other pleasure boats in the area at the time.’
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