Adrienne Vaughan, the 45-year-old president of the US branch of the Bloomsbury publishing house, died after a collision between a speedboat and a 45-metre sailboat on Italy’s Amalfi coast.
Vaughan, her husband and two children, had rented the 9-metre speedboat with driver on Thursday (3rd August). The family from New York was staying south of Naples.
Their vessel collided with a 45-metre sailboat which was carrying around 85 people who were celebrating a wedding.
Vaughan reportedly fell overboard in the collision and was fatally struck by the boat’s propeller.
“Adrienne Vaughan was a leader of dazzling talent and infectious passion and had a deep commitment to authors and readers,” a joint statement from the association’s board chair, Julia Reidhead, and president and CEO, Maria A Pallante, said. “Most of all she was an extraordinary human being, and those of us who had the opportunity to work with her will be forever fortunate.”
Skipper tested positive
The skipper at the helm of the speed was positive in a toxicology test, sources said on Friday.
The 45-year-old woman was the president of Bloomsbury USA. The company is part of the group which publishes the Harry Potter books.
Vaughan’s husband suffered limb injuries in the accident and was taken to Ravello hospital. Her two children are reportedly in shock.
The 30-year-old skipper suffered fractured ribs and injured his pelvis in the accident, the sources said.
In August 2022, a British man died when a yacht crashed into rocks near Porto Cervo.
