British millionaire was killed when his yacht collided with vessel owned by Silvio Berlusconi ‘due to the negligence of BOTH captains’, Italian prosecutors allege
- Dean Kronsbein, 61, was on the deck of his 88ft yacht Amore when it crashed
- Kronsbein was pulled from the water by a passing yacht but could not be saved
- Case closed after 11-month investigation with trial expected later this year
Dean Kronsbein, 61, was on the deck of his 88ft yacht Amore with his wife and daughter when it ploughed into some rocks, throwing him into the ocean. He was pulled from the water, but could not be saved
Prosecutors investigating the death of a British man after his yacht collided with a vessel owned by controversial former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi have recommended both captains be charged with manslaughter.
Millionaire businessman Dean Kronsbein, 61, suffered fatal injuries after he was thrown to the ground when his yacht the Amore smashed into rocks after it took evasive action to avoid Berlusconi’s Sweet Dragon boat.
Following an 11-month investigation, prosecutors on the Italian island of Sardinia, where the tragedy happened, have closed their case and have advocated Mario Lallone, 68, the captain of the Amore and Lugi Cortese, 58, at the helm of the Sweet Dragon, be charged with manslaughter.
In addition, the file also recommends both also be formally accused with causing a disaster and non-observance of maritime safety regulations.
Prosecutor Gregorio Capasso accuses both men of ‘negligence, imprudence and inexperience’ in his report which will now go before an investigating magistrate at Tempio Pausania on Sardinia to be rubber stamped, with a trial expected later in the year.
He described how both yachts were sailing fast ‘at between 26-28 knots’ in a stretch of water where it was forbidden to navigate just off a chain of islands known as Li Nibani, on the north-east coast of the millionaires’ playground.
Both vessels were sailing in the opposite direction when they suddenly came face to face and the skipper of the Amore should have steered left but instead steered right smashing into the rocks as he fought to take evasive action.
The captain of the 70ft Sweet Dragon has insisted he was following correct nautical procedures and that he had to carry out a drastic manoeuvre to avoid smashing into the 88ft Amore, owned by Mr Kronsbein, who was from Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire.
In the incident last July, his wife Sabine, 60, and daughter Sophia, 28, were also injured and they had to be airlifted to hospital but were later released and flown back to the UK.
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 88ft Amore is seen ashore in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, after being seized by authorities
Pictured: The damage to the yacht’s bow is seen in pictures taken after it was towed ashore
Pictured: Dean Kronsbein’s 88ft yacht Amore is seen impounded by local authorities
Mr Kronsbein is pictured with his close friend TV presenter Richard Hammond
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.
Sources said Berlusconi, who died last week, and who had a home in Sardinia, was not aboard Sweet Dragon at the time of the incident but ‘members of his extended family’ were on the yacht and were questioned as witnesses.
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.
Pictured: Dead yachtsman Dean Kronsbein (left) with MP Philip Dunne (right). Mr Kronsbein was the owner of Ultrafilter Medical based in Ross-on-Wye, which made highly specialised medical equipment and distributed millions of masks during lockdown
Grimsby born Mr Kronsbein was director of Ultrafilter Medical, based in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, which makes specialised medical equipment including surgical masks.
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.
Mr Kronsbein lived at £5m Cubberley House, a beautiful country home close to Ross on Wye
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
Paint was also left imprinted on the rocks that the vessel hit, killing one and injuring six – two of them with serious wounds. Mr Kronsbein’s wife Sabine, 60, and daughter Sophia, 28, were also seriously injured and taken to a hospital at Olbia before being transferred to a specialist unit at Sassari 60 miles away
Vessels are showed moored in Porto Cervo after the stricken craft was towed back to shore, where it was met by emergency services
The crash happened near a set of islands called Il Nibani, which are around two miles off the coast from Porto Cervo, Sardinia
Former Top Gear star Richard Hammond told MailOnline last year shortly after the tragedy how he had been left ‘heartbroken’ at news of Mr Kronsbein’s death.
He said: ‘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.
‘He was a 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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