August 15, 2019 – Two arrests are made regarding the tragedy on Hvar, as the official investigation confirms the cause as carbon monoxide poisoning on the victim’s charter yacht.
As previously reported on TCN, 57-year-old Italian tourist Eugenio Vinci was found dead on a charter boat off Hvar two days ago, while five other passengers were helicoptered to Split Airport with severe poisoning.
Initial reports that the death and illness were related to a meal of mussels in a popular Hvar restaurant were quickly discounted, and the focus of the investigation turned to the boat they had chartered, which Croatian media has named as MS Atlantia from Omis. Built in 1992, the wooden boat sleeps 11 and is available for charter for 11,900 euro a week.
The official investigation has now concluded that the cause of death and illness was due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a leak from a generator which was installed in the engine room on August 8. This leak led to the poisoning of the passengers in their cabins.
Two people have been arrested in relation to the death and the poisoning, the 23-year-old owner of the boat, and the 27-year-old captain. They face up to 8 years in prison if found guilty.
The quick response of the Hvar emergency services ensured that the five sick tourists were transferred to Split hospital by helicopter, and they were undergoing treatment in intensive care less than an hour after Atlantia docked on the Hvar riva. Such quick intervention undoubtedly saved lives, and the three adults who were transferred are all now in a stable condition, while the two children remain critical.
This is an ongoing story, and we will report more on it as news comes in.
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