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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Katie Weston

Top Gear star's millionaire Brit pal dies in luxury yacht crash as probe launched

A British man who died after a luxury yacht sailing off the coast of Italy crashed into rocks has been named as a millionaire company owner.

Dean Kronsbein, 61, was on board the vessel with his wife Sabine, 59, and 27-year-old daughter Sophia on Sunday before the captain reportedly moved to steer clear of another boat.

He was pulled from the water but pronounced dead at the scene despite the efforts of medics, according to local media.

Authorities said the man suffered fatal injuries when the 70ft Amore yacht collided with rocks off Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

Mr Kronsbein's wife and daughter sustained serious injuries.

They are understood to have been taken to a hospital and later moved to a specialist unit in the city of Sassari.

The 70ft Amore yacht collided with rocks off Porto Cervo, Sardinia (ansa.it)

Family lawyer Egidio Caredda told MailOnline : "As you can imagine this has been a terrible shock for the family.

"I was contacted by Mr Kronsbein's son to help them with the situation, and I am giving them all the assistance I can.

"The local authorities are still investigating the exact circumstances and we will also be speaking to witnesses to establish what happened."

He added that Mr Kronsbein's son, Dustin, flew out from England and has been with his mum and sister while they receive treatment.

The captain of the Amore, Mario Lallone, is understood to be under investigation.

Witnesses, including four friends of Mr Kronsbein on board the yacht and rescuers, will also be questioned.

Mr Kronsbein was the founder and chairman of Ultrafilter Medical - a multi-million pound company which manufactures face masks for NHS workers.

Earlier this year, Grimsby Live reported on his mission to donate 100,000 face masks to locals, as part of his Great British Mask Giveaway campaign.

Mr Kronsbein was founder and chairman of Ultrafilter Medical (YouTube)

Speaking of living in Grimsby until he was 17, he said at the time: “We didn’t have a lot and I started working on a local farm, picking potatoes during the school holidays, to earn extra money.

"In those days, we were allowed to take as many potatoes as we wanted to home for our families and I quickly spotted an opportunity to create a home-delivery service for local housewives, taking orders for different types of potatoes before delivering them to their door on a pedal bike I bought to get me to the farm and back.

“I’ve never forgotten how difficult those times were and, when I returned to the UK with my family in 2017, I wanted to give something back."

Mr Kronsbein (left) with close friend Richard Hammond (right) (YouTube)

Last month, he hosted a party for the Bentley Drivers Club at his country home near Ross on Wye, with his close friend and Top Gear star Richard Hammond attending, as well as Prince Michael of Kent.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said: “We are providing support following a maritime accident in Sardinia, including to the family of a dual national who has died.

"We are in contact with the local authorities.”

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