Greek authorities have launched an investigation into the “perplexing” death of a Briton, described by local people as an “eccentric Englishman”, whose body was found on a partially sunken luxury yacht off Crete.
Police in the harbour town of Chania said the 74-year-old – identified as Hugh Kerr Bradley Roberts, who retired to the island more than a decade ago – had been found dead on the vessel, which sank near Souda, where it was permanently moored. Local media reported he had been tethered to its mast.
“It’s a very strange case,” said an officer who requested anonymity. “We find it difficult to believe that a yacht that is 30 metres in length can sink easily. Our inquiry is obviously focused on the wreckage and whether there is any evidence to suggest it was deliberately submerged. It’s perplexing.”
The body was removed from the listing vessel by a diver on Sunday, hours after it is thought to have sunk overnight. An autopsy that appeared to have been delayed until family members flew in from the UK will be vital in determining whether a murder inquiry is launched. Panaghiotis Milionakis, a coroner based in the Cretan city of Rethymnon, will conduct the postmortem.
Although Roberts had sustained no visible injuries on his body, foul play has not been ruled out, according to coastguard officials in charge of the investigation. “Nothing can be excluded at this stage,” one said.
The crew on a passing fishing boat alerted the authorities after spotting the wreck. Roberts was retrieved from the sea where he was described as floating face-down, one hand entangled in rope. His dog, Tuck, was said to be clinging to the part of the deck that remained above water.
“He was on the bow of the yacht trying with all his little dog might not to drown,” said Efi Tsekmesoglou, who runs an animal welfare sanctuary in Chania. “The dog was in a state of shock. We’ve been inundated with calls from around the world by people wanting to take him in. Hugh had 12 cats and three dogs on the huge estate he had in the foothills.”
The Briton had been living on the yacht after his partner died of cancer three years ago. He had previously lived in a villa he had bought in the village of Ramni above Chania that he continued to own with his ex-wife. The couple had moved to the Mediterranean island from Cornwall. In a note for the estate agent from whom he had bought the villa, he had written: “We … hope to reside on the beautiful island of Crete for the rest of our lives.”
An editor at a local online news outlet said: “He was very eccentric and appeared to be wealthy. Apparently he had made a lot of money in stocks and shares.”
A former navy officer, Roberts had reported being the victim of a robbery onboard the yacht two years ago during which his assailants also left him tied up before he was discovered several days later. Sources in Chania, who did not wish to be named, said Roberts had been involved in a long-running acrimonious dispute with property developers.
