The yacht owned by ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi
Pictured: Yacht owned by ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi involved in fatal crash which saw British millionaire lose his life
- Dean Kronsbein, 61, was on the deck of his 70ft yacht Amore when it crashed into rocks off coast of Sardinia
- He was pulled out water but sadly died, while wife Sabine, 59, and daughter Sophia, 27, were severely injured
- The yacht captain has been placed under investigation by police, with suspicions they were racing at time
- Another captain – steering yacht Sweet Dragon owned by ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi – is also questioned
A yacht owned by controversial former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and involved in the fatal crash which saw millionaire British businessman Dean Kronsbein lose his life has been pictured.
Investigators are still piecing together the circumstances which led to the 70ft Magnum yacht Amore crashing into rocks off the coast of Sardinia on Sunday. The ship’s skipper reportedly took evasive action to avoid another vessel.
Mr Kronsbein, a 61-year-old German-British dual national, owned the face mask supplier Ultrafilter Medical, based in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire.
Although he was pulled still conscious from the sea, Mr Kronsbein, a close friend of TV presenter Richard Hammond, suffered a fatal heart attack onboard a passing yacht that rescued him.
The ship’s captain Mario Lallone and Luigi Cortese, the captain of a boat called Sweet Dragon owned by controversial former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, have both been placed under investigation by the Italian authorities.
Sources said Berlusconi, who has a home in Sardinia, was not aboard Sweet Dragon at the time of the incident but ‘members of his extended family’ were and they are expected to be questioned as witnesses.
Now MailOnline can reveal exclusive pictures taken of the luxury Sweet Dragon yacht on July 2, before the accident.
This is the yacht involved in the accident that resulted in the death of British millionaire Dean Kronsbein in the waters in front of Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy. The yacht is called Sweet Dragon and is owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Pictured on July 2, before the accident
The captain of the yacht Sweet Dragon, Luigi Cortese, is under investigation for the incident
Silvio Berlusconi goes out on the magnum called ‘Sweet Dragon’ with his wife Marta Fascina on the wharf of Villa Certosa
The Sweet Magnum’s captain is being question by police over the incident which led to Mr Kronsbein’s death (Pictured: Silvio Berlusconi and his family in the boat on a separate occasion)
The yacht is called Sweet Dragon and is owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Sabine, 59, (pictured with her husband Dean Kronsbein) suffered serious injuries in the incident as did their daughter Sophia, 27, who has undergone treatment in a specialist head injuries hospital
This terrifying image taken after the crash laid bare the full extent of the damage – with the bow of the Amore completely torn off with the force of the impact on the rocks
A pleasant day on the water off the coast of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia turned to tragedy late on Sunday as Mr Kronsbein’s yacht headed towards the millionaire playground resort of Porto Cervo, where he owns a property.
Both skippers Lallone and Cortese face possible manslaughter and wounding charges, and it comes as investigators probe the possibility the yachts were racing in a stretch of water out of bounds to them.
Witnesses spoke of the two boats being on a ‘parallel course’ at the time of the incident.
There are also reports that both vessels were in a stretch of water by a tiny island called Il Nibani that is technically out of bounds for large vessels.
Pictured: Dean Kronsbein’s 70ft yacht Amore is seen impounded by local authorities
Pictured: The damage to the yacht’s bow is seen in pictures taken after it was towed ashore
The vessel (pictured after the crash surrounded by rescue vessels) ploughed into a stretch of rocks and lost its bow in the force of the impact which happened at Il Nibani, just off the coast of Porto Cervo on the island of Sardinia
The captain of Amore, Mario Lallone, has been placed under investigation by Italian authorities in connection with the incident
Both yachts have been seized by investigators while local prosecutors in Tempio Pausania investigate possible manslaughter and wounding charges.
Onboard Amore were Mr Kronsbein’s wife Sabine, 59, and daughter Sophia, 27, who were both seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment where they are still recovering.
The captain of the other yacht had been identified as Luigi Cortese and the vessel is owned by scandal-ridden Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi (pictured) who has a home in Sardinia
Two other couples who were also on board — one British and the other Italian — were slightly injured and have stayed in Sardinia to be questioned by authorities and Mr Kronsbein’s lawyer Egidio Caredda.
Caredda told MailOnline: ‘The investigation is continuing, and we are speaking to witnesses and so are the relevant authorities.
‘The family just want to know how Mr Kronsbein died and we have appointed our own pathologist to look at the autopsy reports as well as an independent maritime expert.’
The captain of the other yacht was identified as Luigi Cortese and the vessel is owned by scandal-ridden Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi.
The Sweet Dragon was at the centre of controversy in 2009 after pictures emerged of scantily clad women being ferried onboard to Berlusconi’s nearby Villa Certosa.
Grimsby born Mr Kronsbein was director of Ultrafilter Medical, based in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, which makes specialised medical equipment including surgical masks.
Vessels are showed moored in Porto Cervo late on Sunday night after the stricken craft was towed back to shore, where it was met by emergency services
Pictured: The 70ft Amore is seen on-land in Porto Cervo, Sardinia after being seized by the local authorities while an investigation into the crash is carried out
Paint was also left imprinted on the rocks that the vessel hit, killing one and injuring six – two of them with serious wounds. Mr Kronsbien’s wife Sabine, 59, and daughter Sophia, 27, were also seriously injured and taken to a hospital at Olbia before being transferred to a more specialist unit at Sassari 60 miles away
The crash happened near a set of islands called Il Nibani, which are around two miles off the coast from Porto Cervo, Sardinia
Mr Kronsbien’s owns £5 million Cubberley House, a beautiful country home close to Ross on Wye and also a four bedroom villa on the outskirts of Porto Cervo (pictured)
Former Top Gear star Richard Hammond (left) told MailOnline on Tuesday how he had been left ‘heartbroken’ at news of Mr Kronsbein’s death
During the pandemic the company distributed millions of masks for free across the country and took part in the Big Mask Giveaway.
His family owns £5 million Cubberley House close to Ross-on-Wye as well as a four bedroom villa in Porto Cervo close to where he died.
Former Top Gear star Richard Hammond told MailOnline on Tuesday how he had been left ‘heartbroken’ at news of Mr Kronsbein’s death.
‘He really was a larger than life character and I know people often say that but he really was and the world needs more people like him,’ Hammond said.
‘He was big hearted, fun character who wanted people to enjoy themselves when they were with him and he was also an astute businessman. He opened factories in Ross-on-Wye, who does that for goodness sake!?’
‘I just can’t believe I won’t see him again in his colourful waistcoat and looking at his pocket watch.’
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