Tragic Death of Journalist at Cannes Yachting Festival
Although this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival was a roaring success in most aspects, it was also tainted with tragedy. A 30-year old Serbian journalist was killed when she allegedly jumped off a speeding boat during a demonstration. Although the authorities have not yet confirmed the make of the vessel involved, it has been claimed to be a MX-12 Grand Sport, a rib constructed by Italian shipyard Cantieri Magazzù and one of the boats that were showcased the previous week at the Cannes Yachting Festival. Cantieri Magazzù was not available to the media for comment.
Rough seas and frazzled nerves
On the penultimate day of the festival, on the 12th of September, two members of the media were involved with a boating demonstration. According to the media, disaster struck when the boat’s skipper and another passenger, also said to be a journalist from Serbia, were knocked off the boat into the ocean by a powerful wave. The female journalist panicked and jumped overboard as well. Although the two men escaped unscathed, the unfortunate woman was caught in the boat’s still moving propellers where she met her demise.
The kill-cord was not used
The authorities claim that the boat’s kill-cord may not have been used when the incident occurred. The kill-cord is a cable which is meant to be attached to the skipper’s leg as well as the kill-switch on the boat’s engine. In the event of the skipper falling overboard, the cord pulls the kill-switch out of the ignition and kills the engine of the boat. Whether the skipper was negligent and the kill-cord was not attached is yet to be established. A joint investigation was launched by the Cannes police and the St Raphael maritime police. Video evidence of the unfortunate incident is available and will be reviewed as part of the investigation.