An Australian sailor has died and two others have been hospitalised following a yachting accident off the coast of the Philippines.
The crew of the yacht ‘Katerina’ were met with violent storms last Thursday as they were sailing the vessel to North Queensland.
The trio were reportedly sailing the luxury yacht to its new home when they were met with rough conditions.
Anthony Mahoney, 73, Laurie Miller, 68, and Lionel Ansselin, all skilled sailors, were on board the ship.
Australian sailor Anthony Mahoney, 73, tragically died before he and his crew were rescued by a Filipino fishing crew on Monday
Mr Mahoney, from Townsville, tragically died before the men were rescued by a Filipino fishing crew on Monday.
The 73-year-old’s stepdaughter, Shannon Grasso, said the family were in shock at losing ‘a beautiful man’.
‘We can’t believe this has happened, especially after what happened to Mum,’ Ms Grasso told the Courier Mail.
Mr Mahoney’s wife, Shelley, also died following a freak sailing accident in Malaysia in 2014.
‘He is with Mum now,’ Ms Grasso said.
Mr Mahoney’s wife, Shelley, (pictured together) also died following a freak sailing accident in Malaysia in 2014
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to the family of Mr Mahoney.
Crewman Laurie Miller, from Cairns, remains in intensive care in a Filipino hospital as his partner and son try and fly to be by his side.
Mr Miller’s daughter, Kristy Cruise, said it was a miracle her father was still alive.
‘My brother spoke to him and he said they were smashed by terrible storms and every night the boat overturned and they were clinging on for dear life and the next day they would get back on and do it all again,’ she said.
The 18m yacht was once owned by renowned American television newsman Walter Cronkite (stock image)
The boat refuelled in Davao (pictured) and was bound for new owners in Subic, some three days’ sailing away
Mr Ansselin, the yacht’s latest owner, is also an Australian national believed to be living in the Philippines.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority received an alert beacon from the vessel last Thursday and two more EPIRB (distress) signals on Friday, about 165 nautical miles from the Filippino port of Davao City.
The boat refuelled in Davao and was bound for new owners in Subic, some three days’ sailing away.
The 18m yacht was once owned by renowned American television newsman Walter Cronkite, the Courier Mail reports, and had once had Bill and Hillary Clinton aboard as guests.