An entrepreneur was killed after being shredded by his own boat’s propeller as his son looked on in horror.
Andrea Bruglia was sailing with son Alessandro and three pals off Ancona’s Marina Dorica, Italy, on Thursday (28 August) evening when tragedy struck.
A sudden gust of wind is thought to have swung the sailboat’s boom into 62-year-old Andrea’s head – knocking him unconscious and sending him plunging into the sea.
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He was immediately dragged into the churning propeller.
The powerful blades caused catastrophic injuries to his head and arms, killing him almost instantly.
Brave Alessandro dived in and hauled his dad out before desperately trying to resuscitate him.
But his efforts were in vain, as reported by Need To Know.
The coastguard arrived within 10 minutes of the alarm being raised and brought both father and son back to shore.
Alessandro, in deep shock, was rushed to hospital.
Andrea – known to friends as “Benca” – ran a successful medical supplies company and was a lifelong sailor.
He owned a 13-metre Grand Soleil 43 yacht with three cabins and every comfort, and had completed numerous voyages with his children Alessandro and Arianna.
In recent years he had also launched a project promoting sustainable sailing holidays.
His funeral was held this morning (1 Sept).
Long-time friend and local councillor Daniele Berardinelli paid tribute, saying: “He was an exceptional person.”
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